Walgreens recently announced a significant expansion of its specialty pharmacy services to bring cell and gene therapies directly to U.S. patients. This new initiative includes the launch of a dedicated business unit focused on specialty pharmacy services, marking a major step in the company’s efforts to transform and improve healthcare for individuals with chronic, rare, or complex conditions.
Specialty Pharmacy Services
Specialty pharmacies play a crucial role in the U.S. healthcare system, particularly as the prevalence of chronic diseases continues to rise. These pharmacies provide medications requiring specialized handling, storage, and distribution for patients with conditions such as cancer, Crohn’s disease, and HIV. Additionally, they offer counseling and financial assistance to support patients undergoing costly treatments.
Cell and Gene Therapies
The decision to expand into cell and gene therapy services comes at a time when there has been a surge in approvals of these innovative treatments in both the U.S. and the European Union. Cell and gene therapies are one-time, high-cost treatments that aim to target a patient’s genetic source or cell to cure or significantly alter the course of a disease. Some experts predict that these therapies may eventually replace traditional lifelong treatments for chronic diseases.
Impact of FDA Approvals
In the last year, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved seven cell and gene therapies, including the first gene therapies to treat sickle cell disease. The FDA projects that it will be reviewing and approving between 10 and 20 cell and gene therapies annually by 2025. This rapid growth in approvals underscores the need for expanded specialty pharmacy services to support patients and healthcare providers.
Walgreens’ newly established specialty pharmacy business unit is now the largest independent provider of specialty pharmacy services, generating approximately $24 billion in revenue. Unlike many other specialty pharmacy providers, Walgreens is not partnered with a pharmacy benefit manager, allowing the company to contract dynamically with payers and pharmaceutical manufacturers. This flexibility enables Walgreens to facilitate the distribution of limited-distribution drugs and collaborate closely with providers to ensure a seamless treatment experience for patients.
Through its specialty pharmacy services, Walgreens is committed to enhancing patient care by providing resources such as clinicians with disease expertise, nutritionists, and nurses. Patients utilizing AllianceRx and Walgreens’ community-based pharmacies will have access to a range of services, including injection training, side-effect management, and faster delivery of specialty drugs compared to industry norms. With over 1,500 specialty pharmacists, 5,000 patient-advocacy support team members, and dedicated specialty pharmacy teams, Walgreens is well-equipped to meet the unique needs of patients requiring specialized treatments.
Walgreens’ expansion of its specialty pharmacy services to include cell and gene therapies represents a significant advancement in the delivery of innovative healthcare solutions to patients in the U.S. By leveraging its expertise, resources, and network of pharmacies, Walgreens is poised to play a key role in improving access to cutting-edge treatments for individuals with complex medical conditions. This strategic initiative underscores Walgreens’ commitment to providing high-quality care and support to patients in need of specialized treatments.