1. Scrip
  2. >>Business
  3. >>Deals

Cigna/Express Scripts: The End Of The Standalone PBM Era

 
• By Jessica Merrill

The health insurer Cigna is poised to acquire the largest independent PBM in the US. With other consolidation throughout the sector, this signals sweeping changes to the way drug distribution is managed.

Business teamwork puzzle pieces.

Express Scripts Holding Co.– the largest pharmacy benefit manager in the US, which has staked its reputation for lowering drug spending on a message of independence – is poised to be acquired by the health insurer Cigna Corp. for $67bn in cash and stock, including $15bn in Express Scripts debt.

The news will reverberate across the pharmaceutical industry as stakeholders scramble to decipher what this latest consolidation in an ongoing wave will mean for the way drugs are managed and...

Read the full article – start your free trial today!

Join thousands of industry professionals who rely on Scrip for daily insights

  • Start your 7-day free trial
  • Explore trusted news, analysis, and insights
  • Access comprehensive global coverage
  • Enjoy instant access – no credit card required
Start Free Trial

Already a subscriber?

More from Deals

Astellas Gets CLDN.18.2-Targeted ADC From China’s Evopoint

 
• By Joseph Haas

Astellas will pay $130m up front for near-global rights to a Phase I/II antibody-drug conjugate that will add to its portfolio of CLDN.18.2-targeted drugs, including Vyloy.

Lilly To Diversify Pain Pipeline With SiteOne Acquisition

 
• By Joseph Haas

Deal snapshot: With several internal non-opioid pain candidates in Phase II or earlier, Lilly looks to add R&D potential in pain with $1bn buyout of SiteOne.

Angelini Advances Brain Health Ambitions With GRIN Pact

 
• By Kevin Grogan

The Italian drugmaker gets rights to Phase III-ready asset radiprodil.

Deal Watch: QurAlis Targets Fragile-X Syndrome In Deals With Quiver, UMass

 
• By Joseph Haas

Plus the end of Sanofi’s six-target alliance with IGM, OmniAb’s deals with Veraxa and Angelini, alliances involving Skye/Arecor, Genprex/UTHealth Houston and more.

More from Business

Loss Of Exclusivity Product Launches To Fuel Aurobindo’s FY26 Europe Growth

 
• By Vibha Ravi

Aurobindo is banking on launches of loss of exclusivity products and biosimilars to fuel sales in Europe as it awaits a US announcement on tariffs and predicts high single-digit growth overall during FY26 for now

Korea Q1 Roundup: Mixed Earnings, Gearing For Possible US Tariffs

 
• By Jung Won Shin

South Korean biopharma companies report a mostly solid first quarter, marked by US growth for original drugs, with several also making preparations for possible US pharma tariffs.

In Brief: Nicox Extends Cash Runway As Kowa Advances NCX 470 In Japan

 
• By Sushmita Panda

Eye drug is already in Phase III trials elsewhere, with results due in Q3. Nicox could earn up to a further €24.5m in milestones and royalties from Kowa alliance.