Walgreens launches cell, gene therapies in service expansion | Wilnesh News

walgreens said Thursday it will begin working directly with drugmakers to bring cell and gene therapies to U.S. patients as part of its broader expansion Professional pharmacy services.

The company said it is launching a new business unit dedicated to its specialty pharmaceuticals segment, which will include specialty pharmaceuticals subsidiaries AllianceRx. The unit will be part of its core U.S. Retail Pharmacy segment. at the same time, Shield Health Solutionsis a subsidiary that supports health system-owned specialty pharmacies and will remain part of Walgreens’ U.S. Healthcare segment.

Specialty pharmacies have become important players in the U.S. health system, especially in the treatment of chronic diseases become more common.

Medications available from specialty pharmacies require extra care when handling, storing and dispensing them. These treatments are often targeted at patients with chronic, rare or complex diseases, such as cancer, Crohn’s disease and HIV. Specialty pharmacies also offer counseling or financial assistance designed to support patients undergoing these expensive treatments.

In a new investment by the company to “transform” its specialty pharmacy services, it will open a newly licensed facility in Pittsburgh dedicated to providing cell and gene therapy services. The 18,000-square-foot center will help drugmakers and healthcare providers navigate the complex supply chain for these treatments and manage issues such as patient demand.

Walgreens’ decision to launch cell and gene therapy services follows a surge in U.S. and European Union approvals of the drugs last year.they are One-time, high-cost treatment Targeting a patient’s genetic source or cells to cure or significantly alter the course of a disease. Some health experts expect cell and gene therapies to replace the traditional lifelong treatments people use to manage chronic diseases.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration approved seven cell and gene therapies last year, including the first gene therapy to treat sickle cell disease.The market is only expected to grow: FDA has expected By 2025, 10 to 20 cell and gene therapies will be reviewed and approved each year.

Walgreens said its newly formed business unit is the largest independent provider of specialty pharmacy services, with revenue of approximately $24 billion. Walgreens specialty pharmacy operations do not work with pharmacy benefit managers, the company noted.

This gives the company “the flexibility to dynamically contract with any payer,” Walgreens Chief Pharmacy Officer Rick Gates said in a press release. “We can work directly with pharmaceutical manufacturers to facilitate product launches, including limited distribution, and coordinate closely with suppliers to ensure patients start treatment smoothly.”

Walgreens said in a news release that under the new division, AllianceRx patients, as well as those at the company’s nearly 300 community pharmacies, will now have access to resources that will “build on the expert care they already receive from specialty pharmacists.” basically”. These include clinicians, nutritionists and nurses with expertise in key diseases.

The company said its community specialty pharmacies Located near medical office buildings and health systems, it provides specialty medications “faster than the industry average” as well as services such as injection training and side effect management.

Walgreens says it has More than 1,500 specialty pharmacists, 5,000 patient advocacy support team members and an unknown number of dedicated specialty pharmacy teams.

The company also offers more than 1,300 specialty drugs, including 240 “limited distribution” drugs that are rarely available at specialty pharmacies.