DRUGSTORE CHAIN BUYS SPECIALTY PHARMACIES

Walgreens continues to expand intospecialty pharmacy. The drugstore chainwill acquire Medmark Specialty PharmacySolutions (Pittsburgh, Pa).Medmark provides pharmaceutical care specifically for patients with unique medicationneeds, such as treatments for HIV/AIDS, cancer, organ transplants, and Parkinson's disease.Many of the drugs are injected or infused, with all requiring special storage, handling,or administration.

The pharmacy will remain in Pittsburgh. After the purchase is complete, whichis expected at the end of the summer, it will operate under Medmark, aWalgreens Specialty Pharmacy.

Walgreens also recently acquired C&M Pharmacy LLC in Chicago, Ill. This 10-year-old specialty pharmacy serves patients with HIV/AIDS, hepatitis C, andbehavioral health conditions. In addition, the pharmacy provides nutritional therapies,wound care, and intravenous infusion therapies. C&M will continue to operateunder its current name.