Press Releases

Cardinal Health announces three-year agreement to serve as primary supply chain partner for branded and generic pharmaceuticals

DUBLIN, Ohio, July 31, 2008 — Cardinal Health, a global provider of products and services that improve the safety and productivity of health care, today announced a three-year agreement with Prime Therapeutics, one of the nation’s leading pharmacy benefit managers, to serve as its primary supply chain partner for branded and generic pharmaceuticals, effective August 1.

Prime Therapeutics managed more than $8.2 billion in prescription drug spend in 2007, and currently serves approximately 14.6 million members through Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans, employer and union groups and third-party administrators.

“We look forward to delivering the pharmaceutical supply chain services that will help Prime Therapeutics continue to efficiently and effectively serve its patients’ medication needs,” said Mike Kaufmann, group president of Healthcare Supply Chain Services – Pharmaceutical for Cardinal Health. “This agreement is an excellent example of our commitment to building flexible, mutually beneficial partnerships with our customers that also enable us to grow our pharmaceutical distribution business.”

Cardinal Health will also offer Prime Therapeutics additional supply chain optimization services to help improve its operational efficiency.

“This innovative new partnership will provide us with the benefits of buying through a drug wholesaler and the insights and expertise of direct generics buying,” said Tim Dickman, Prime Therapeutics CEO. 'Cardinal Health was selected as our primary distributor because they offer the experience, value-added services and flexibility that we need to continue to deliver quality, cost-efficient prescription drug benefits to our customers.”

About Prime Therapeutics
Prime Therapeuticsis a pharmacy benefit management company dedicated to providing innovative, clinically based, cost-effective pharmacy solutions for clients and members. Providing pharmacy benefit services nationwide to approximately 14.6 million covered lives, its client base includes Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans, employer and union groups, and third-party administrators. Headquartered in St. Paul, Minnesota, Prime Therapeutics is collectively owned by 10 Blue Cross and Blue Shield Plans, subsidiaries or affiliates of those Plans. Learn more at www.primetherapeutics.com.

About Cardinal Health
Headquartered in Dublin, Ohio, Cardinal Health, Inc. (NYSE: CAH) is an $87 billion, global company serving the health-care industry with products and services that help hospitals, physician offices and pharmacies reduce costs, improve safety, productivity and profitability, and deliver better care to patients.  With a focus on making supply chains more efficient, reducing hospital-acquired infections and breaking the cycle of harmful medication errors, Cardinal Health develops market-leading technologies, including Alaris^® IV pumps, Pyxis^® automated dispensing systems, MedMined™ electronic infection surveillance service, VIASYS^® respiratory care products and the CareFusion™ patient identification system.  The company also manufactures medical and surgical products and is one of the largest distributors of pharmaceuticals and medical supplies worldwide.  Ranked No. 19 on the Fortune 500, Cardinal Health employs more than 40,000 people on five continents.  More information about the company may be found at www.cardinalhealth.com.