WBA, Express Scripts enter specialty Rx purchase agreement
Express Scripts and Walgreens Boots Alliance on Tuesday expanded their group purchasing efforts to include the procurement of specialty drugs.
”As prescription drug needs evolve and specialty medications are prescribed more often, we continue to look for new solutions that will help our patients get the medications they need at an affordable price,” Alex Gourlay, co-COO Walgreens Boots Alliance, said. “Working with Express Scripts, we are partnering to deliver even more value to our patients and clients to improve health outcomes.”
Their work will be supported by ValoremRx Specialty Solutions, which will source specialty drugs to simplify the global supply chain and lower costs for patients and clients, including patients using Express Scripts’ specialty pharmacy Accredo and Walgreens specialty pharmacy.
“Specialty medications represent the most costly and complex drugs. By expanding our efforts with Walgreens Boots Alliance, we will improve our supply chain and ultimately make the use of these medicines, including biosimilars, more affordable and accessible for our patients and clients,” Tim Wentworth, Express Scripts president and CEO, said.
Walgreens has been making recent investments into its specialty arm. For example, just last month Walgreens received a U.S. patent for new proprietary technology that facilitates communication with and counseling of patients prescribed oral oncology medicines.
“As more and more cancer patients are self-administering oral oncolytic medications without medical supervision, there is no way for providers to know if the patient is taking the medication as prescribed or what side effects they may be experiencing,” Rick Miller, senior director, specialty clinical services at AllianceRx Walgreens Prime, stated at the time of the announcement. “This is where our interaction guiding system, coupled with pharmacy experts, becomes extremely valuable as it drives communication with our patients and allows our pharmacists to gather important information about their treatment.”
Through Walgreens Connected Care Oncology, an evidence-based, patient-centered process focused on driving medication adherence and improving patient outcomes, this newly patented technology helps guide interactions with patients, helping them stay on their treatment and manage any possible side effects.
”As prescription drug needs evolve and specialty medications are prescribed more often, we continue to look for new solutions that will help our patients get the medications they need at an affordable price,” Alex Gourlay, co-COO Walgreens Boots Alliance, said. “Working with Express Scripts, we are partnering to deliver even more value to our patients and clients to improve health outcomes.”
Their work will be supported by ValoremRx Specialty Solutions, which will source specialty drugs to simplify the global supply chain and lower costs for patients and clients, including patients using Express Scripts’ specialty pharmacy Accredo and Walgreens specialty pharmacy.
“Specialty medications represent the most costly and complex drugs. By expanding our efforts with Walgreens Boots Alliance, we will improve our supply chain and ultimately make the use of these medicines, including biosimilars, more affordable and accessible for our patients and clients,” Tim Wentworth, Express Scripts president and CEO, said.
Walgreens has been making recent investments into its specialty arm. For example, just last month Walgreens received a U.S. patent for new proprietary technology that facilitates communication with and counseling of patients prescribed oral oncology medicines.
“As more and more cancer patients are self-administering oral oncolytic medications without medical supervision, there is no way for providers to know if the patient is taking the medication as prescribed or what side effects they may be experiencing,” Rick Miller, senior director, specialty clinical services at AllianceRx Walgreens Prime, stated at the time of the announcement. “This is where our interaction guiding system, coupled with pharmacy experts, becomes extremely valuable as it drives communication with our patients and allows our pharmacists to gather important information about their treatment.”
Through Walgreens Connected Care Oncology, an evidence-based, patient-centered process focused on driving medication adherence and improving patient outcomes, this newly patented technology helps guide interactions with patients, helping them stay on their treatment and manage any possible side effects.