Walgreens, Prime Therapeutics Rx venture gets under way

AllianceRx Walgreens Prime CEO Joel Wright unveils the new company’s brand at its headquarters in Orlando, Fla.

ORLANDO, Fla. — Walgreens and Prime Therapeutics LLC have inaugurated AllianceRx Walgreens Prime, the brand for the joint central specialty pharmacy and mail services company they formed earlier this year.

The companies said the AllianceRx Walgreens Prime launch included the unveiling of new signage at its headquarters in Orlando, Fla., and at other company-owned facilities nationwide. Patients also are being introduced to the new brand, and some will begin to see the AllianceRx Walgreens Prime name and logo on prescriptions and documentation.

Plans call for the the full AllianceRx Walgreens Prime consumer rollout and all components of the company to be aligned to the new brand by the end of next March, according to Walgreens and Prime Therapeutics.

Walgreens and pharmacy benefit manager Prime Therapeutics announced their joint venture in August 2016 and completed their transaction to form the new pharmacy services company this past April. Under the partnership, the companies melded their central specialty pharmacy and mail service businesses, and Walgreens became the core pharmacy provider in Prime Therapeutics’ national preferred pharmacy network as of Jan. 1. The PBM is owned by 14 Blue Cross and Blue Shield health plans.

“I’m excited to share our company’s brand, and all that it stands for, with our patients and clients. While AllianceRx Walgreens Prime is a newly combined company with a new name, we are built from the brands and operational strengths of two leading companies with more than 130 years combined experience in the pharmacy industry,” according to Joel Wright, chief executive officer of AllianceRx Walgreens Prime.

“I’m proud of how our teams have come together to serve patients. Every day, we are living our purpose of ‘We provide hope and care for better tomorrows.’ It certainly rings true as this year’s devastating hurricane season brought out the best in us,” added Wright, former divisional vice president for Walgreens specialty solutions. “I’ve seen my entire team rise to the challenge working night and day to deliver medicines to those who were in harm’s way. Our patients’ care truly is our top priority.”

With the new company under way, about 3,000 positions are slated to transfer from Walgreens and Prime Therapeutics to AllianceRx Walgreens Prime by the year’s end. The hiring of an additional 1,000 pharmacists, pharmacy technicians, nurses and other support personnel also is near completion, which would bring AllianceRx Walgreens Prime’s total workforce to about 4,000 people in multiple locations across 10 states, the companies said.

AllianceRx Walgreens Prime’s customer services include omnichannel tools and resources to help improve medication adherence, 24/7 pharmacy support and pickup of specialty medicines at Walgreens pharmacies. The new company also has access to one of the nation’s largest limited distribution drug portfolios, facilitating specialty drug access for patients with complex conditions such as cancer and multiple sclerosis, the companies said.