Walgreens launches new specialty pharmacy business unit

Walgreens is taking another step to leverage its pharmacies into fast-growing areas of health care. 

The company is launching gene and cell therapy services as part of the expansion of its specialty pharmacy services with the launch of a dedicated business unit, called Walgreens Specialty Pharmacy, that combines existing specialty assets and fully integrates the company’s specialty pharmacy subsidiary, AllianceRx. 

Walgreens described the offering as a “holistic offering to expand access to care for patients with complex, chronic conditions and enables partnerships that drive profitability for Walgreens’ pharmacy business.” The company noted that specialty medications today account for more than 50% of prescription drug spend in in the U.S. due to the increasing prevalence of chronic disease.

“With approximately $24 billion in annual enterprise specialty revenue, Walgreens Specialty Pharmacy is the largest independent provider that offers the industry's most robust specialty capabilities not vertically aligned with a pharmacy benefit manager,” said Rick Gates, chief pharmacy officer, Walgreens. “We have the flexibility to contract dynamically with any payer. We can partner directly with pharmaceutical manufacturers to facilitate products to market, including limited distribution drugs, and coordinate closely with providers to ensure patients experience a smooth start to treatment.”

The company said it is making new investments to transform its specialty pharmacy offerings. These include the opening of a dedicated 18,000-sq.-ft. center in Pittsburgh with services and capabilities for gene and cell emerging therapies, including innovative solutions for managing the complexity of the supply chain, logistics and financing as well as clinical and social needs management to ensure success for patients and partners.

In addition to the gene and cell services, Walgreens said the new unit will be the only specialty pharmacy in the market with the following services and assets at scale:

•Four central specialty pharmacies  Each central specialty pharmacy holds several national pharmacy accreditations – where pharmacists and care teams across the country work together to dispense highly complex medications and help patients manage chronic or rare diseases and conditions

These pharmacies hold distinctions in oncology and rare/orphan conditions and offer patients and caregivers clinical services that drive engagement, adherence and outcomes.

•Nearly 300 community-based specialty pharmacies across the nation More than any other pharmacy, these specialty pharmacies are strategically located near medical office buildings and health systems, closely aligning care provision with local physicians, offering patients access to specialty medications faster than the industry average, as well as services like injection training, medication side-effect management and financial assistance coordination for medications.

•More than 1,500 specialty-trained pharmacists 5,000 patient advocacy support team members and dedicated Specialty360 teams that support all specialty condition and therapies.

•A growing roster of 240 limited distribution drugs This includes 40 narrow networks and 12 exclusive limited distribution drugs.