Walgreens Will Launch New Specialty Pharmacy With ‘Significant’ Cell and Gene Therapy Offering

On April 25, Walgreens Boots Alliance Inc.’s Walgreens revealed that it will launch Walgreens Specialty Pharmacy on Aug. 1. The company is touting the new division, which will include AllianceRx Walgreens Pharmacy and four central specialty pharmacies, as being able to swiftly serve patients without being invested in a PBM. And that could mean enhanced opportunities for contracting with payers and manufacturers, according to one expert.

The new unit will also feature nearly 300 community-based specialty pharmacies across the U.S. and a new 18,000-foot Gene and Cell Services Pharmacy and Innovation Center in Pittsburgh. The unit will have more than 1,500 specialty-trained pharmacists, 5,000 patient advocacy support staffers and 10 Specialty360 teams. It also has access to 240 limited distribution drugs, including 40 narrow networks and 12 exclusive limited distribution agents.