DUBLIN, Ohio, July 31 /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Cardinal Health, a
global provider of products and services that improve the safety and
productivity of health care, today announced a three-year agreement with
Prime Therapeutics, one of the nation's leading pharmacy benefit managers,
to serve as its primary supply chain partner for branded and generic
pharmaceuticals, effective August 1.
Prime Therapeutics managed more than $8.2 billion in prescription drug
spend in 2007, and currently serves approximately 14.6 million members
through Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans, employer and union groups and
third-party administrators.
"We look forward to delivering the pharmaceutical supply chain services
that will help Prime Therapeutics continue to efficiently and effectively
serve its patients' medication needs," said Mike Kaufmann, group president
of Healthcare Supply Chain Services - Pharmaceutical for Cardinal Health.
"This agreement is an excellent example of our commitment to building
flexible, mutually beneficial partnerships with our customers that also
enable us to grow our pharmaceutical distribution business."
Cardinal Health will also offer Prime Therapeutics additional supply
chain optimization services to help improve its operational efficiency.
"This innovative new partnership will provide us with the benefits of
buying through a drug wholesaler and the insights and expertise of direct
generics buying," said Tim Dickman, Prime Therapeutics CEO. "Cardinal
Health was selected as our primary distributor because they offer the
experience, value-added services and flexibility that we need to continue
to deliver quality, cost-efficient prescription drug benefits to our
customers."
About Prime Therapeutics
Prime Therapeutics is a pharmacy benefit management company dedicated
to providing innovative, clinically based, cost-effective pharmacy
solutions for clients and members. Providing pharmacy benefit services
nationwide to approximately 14.6 million covered lives, its client base
includes Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans, employer and union groups, and
third-party administrators. Headquartered in St. Paul, Minnesota, Prime
Therapeutics is collectively owned by 10 Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans,
subsidiaries or affiliates of those Plans. Learn more at
http://www.primetherapeutics.com.
About Cardinal Health
Headquartered in Dublin, Ohio, Cardinal Health, Inc. (NYSE: CAH) is an
$87 billion, global company serving the health care industry with products
and services that help hospitals, physician offices and pharmacies reduce
costs, improve safety, productivity and profitability, and deliver better
care to patients. With a focus on making supply chains more efficient,
reducing hospital-acquired infections and breaking the cycle of harmful
medication errors, Cardinal Health develops market-leading technologies,
including Alaris(R) IV pumps, Pyxis(R) automated dispensing systems,
MedMined(TM) electronic infection surveillance service, VIASYS(R)
respiratory care products and the CareFusion(TM) patient identification
system. The company also manufactures medical and surgical products and is
one of the largest distributors of pharmaceuticals and medical supplies
worldwide. Ranked No. 19 on the Fortune 500, Cardinal Health employs more
than 40,000 people on five continents. More information about the company
may be found at http://www.cardinalhealth.com.
SOURCE Cardinal Health, Inc.
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Related links:
http://www.cardinalhealth.com
http://www.primetherapeutics.com
CONTACT:
Media, Tara Schumacher, +1-614-757-6250,
Tara.schumacher@cardinalhealth.com; Investors, Jon Lyons,
+1-614-757-3996, Jon.lyons@cardinalhealth.com, both of Cardinal
Health, Inc.
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