Specialty Pharmacy

WASHINGTON — Drug companies invested nearly $50 billion in research and development in 2011, according to a new report by a drug industry trade group.

BENTONVILLE, Ark. — Walmart and healthcare partner Humana are out with a new prescription drug program called Rx4Value that guarantees savings and relies on the proven strategy of improving affordability by restricting choice to generic drugs.

With the rise in people diagnosed with complex illnesses like cancers, multiple sclerosis, rheumatoid arthritis, hepatitis, Crohn’s disease and rare genetic disorders, the need for specialty pharmacies to deal with the complex drug regimens they require will rise as well.


One of the highlights for Rite Aid’s business has been Wellness+, its loyalty card program that has played a major role in driving growth in the company’s comps, as well as attracting new and more loyal customers.


MONTREAL — Valeant announced that it has acquired a privately owned specialty pharmaceutical company based in the United States.

Pedinol Pharmacal, a podiatry-focused company that has been in business for more than 85 years, was acquired for an undisclosed amount that was said to be 1.5 times sales. Pedinol touted $18 million in revenue last year.

FLINT, Mich. — Diplomat Specialty Pharmacy has appointed a longtime specialty pharmacy executive to its executive team, the company said Thursday.

Diplomat announced that it had made Gary Rice its VP clinical services. Rice had previously worked as Diplomat's director of clinical services.

NEW YORK — Move over, Lipitor: There's a new top drug on the market, according to published reports.

NEW YORK — A federal judge in Pittsburgh will rule "later" on whether to block or allow a merger between pharmacy benefit managers Medco Health Solutions and Express Scripts, and is considering a request by two trade groups seeking to keep Medco's operations and assets separate from ESI while the lawsuit is pending, according to published reports.