PHOENIX — Next month, The Apothecary Shops is changing its name and brand to Avella Specialty Pharmacy.

The specialty pharmacy chain said Monday that it will officially switch to the Avella banner at all locations and in all business operations on Aug. 1. The company has 18 pharmacies in eight states, including Arizona, New Mexico, Nevada, California, Texas, Utah, Missouri and Ohio.

According to Apothecary Shops, the name and brand change reflects the company’s expansion and transformation into a national specialty pharmacy since its beginnings in 1996 as a compounding pharmacy.

"Inward reflection about our brand brought us to the conclusion that our current name is no longer an accurate description of what our company has become and our pioneering spirit," found and chief executive officer John Musil said in a statement. "As a growing company, we wanted a name that would better reflect what we do and define our uniqueness as a full-service specialty pharmacy."

The company noted that the new branding exemplifies the four pillars of the Avella brand: maintaining a pioneering spirit, being a trusted partner, being accessible clinical experts, and going above and beyond for all providers and patients. In addition, the Avella name stands to provide more consistency in the company’s associated brands, including its 18 locations nationwide and mail order business in Phoenix.

"Since our inception, we’ve taken great pride in the fact that all of our team members do what it takes to regularly provide the highest level of fully integrated pharmacy services to our patients and their providers," commented president Keith Cook. "We reinforced the belief that it was our mission to optimize patient health through a relentless devotion to clinical excellence."