HOME >> MEDICINE >> TECHNOLOGY |
WASHINGTON, Dec. 6, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Bringing together innovative pharmacy benefit managers Express Scripts, Inc. (NASDAQ: ESRX) and Medco Health Solutions (NYSE: MHS) will lead to safer, better and more affordable pharmaceutical coverage care for Americans, company executives state in testimony prepared today for members of a Senate subcommittee.
(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20080827/EXPRESSSCRIPTSLOGO)
(Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20111205/AQ16705LOGO)
Appearing today before the Senate Judiciary Subcommittee on Antitrust, Competition Policy and Consumer Rights, Express Scripts chairman, president and CEO George Paz and Medco chairman and CEO David B. Snow, Jr., offered the following insights and observations in their prepared oral and written testimony:
George Paz, Chairman, President and CEO, Express Scripts:
"We will lower drug costs that are far too high and improve health outcomes for consumers. As the big drug companies merge, as large chain drug stores buy up their competition and demand higher prices, we must become more effective representing the interests of plan sponsors and consumers. Patients — not profits — must come first."
"As healthcare spending continues on an unsustainable trajectory, pharmacy benefit managers have reduced drug costs by 30 percent or more each year through innovative technology and products. These savings are passed on to plan sponsors and consumers."
"Before a consumer ever receives their medicine, my company runs over 100 safety checks through our innovative advanced technologies. This is critical because the PBM is the only one with visibility across all pharmacies used by the consumer. Our systems identify and prevent dangerous drug interactions across all of these pharmacies."
"Beyond wasteful prescription drug spending, waste includes unnecessary hospitalizations, testing and treatment in costly emergency rooms. These are very real problems with costs across the entire health system, and PBMs are the most advanced partners to provide common-sense solutions."
"Express Scripts and Medco have complementary clinical capabilities to serve all patient groups. By combining these offerings, we can pioneer new drug safety systems, create new resources for public health, and continue to advance evidence-based medicine to better serve our patients."
"We are at the forefront of providing specialized care to patients with chronic, complex diseases with medications that can cost tens or even hundreds of thousands of dollars per year. Our specialty pharmacy programs keep patients adherent to injectable and infusible therapies, avoid more costly treatment settings, and improve the livelihood of our patients."
"Simply and most accurately put, we are successful when our clients save money through lower employer and employee health premiums and/or reduced out-of-pocket costs, while at the same time enhancing safety and more positive medical outcomes."
David B. Snow, Jr., Chairman and CEO, Medco:
"As the healthcare industry necessarily focuses on reducing costs; as Congress seeks to find healthcare savings without compromising patient care; and as all participants in the system are faced with the prospect of doing more with less, we must make our healthcare dollars work more effectively. We believe that the services that Medco and Express Scripts, working together, will provide are critical to achieving this goal."
"With the combined expertise and capabilities of Medco and Express Scripts, we will be able to speed the pace of delivering value-added solutions that address the pressing need to reduce overall costs and raise the standard for quality care."
"The clinical programs designed by our pharmacists and nurses ensure that we deliver the right medicine, in the right dose, to address the right conditions, and then that those medicines are taken as prescribed by the patient's physician."
"Medco's clinical solutions keep patients healthier, out of the hospital, and on the job — and ensure affordable care is more accessible for all. Combining these capabilities with Express Scripts' focus on improving patient compliance will allow the collective impact we make to enhance the quality of life for millions of patients and reduce overall costs to the healthcare system."
"To succeed, a PBM must lower drug prices and improve the quality of care for its clients and patients. The Congressional Budget Office has estimated that PBMs reduce drug costs by as much as 30 percent. And as validated in a recently released study, Medco and Express Scripts have saved their clients and members up to $87 billion per year in total drug spending, compared to what would have been spent in an unmanaged environment."
"Combined, we can amplify our impact to reduce overall costs by improving the quality of patient care. This will make American business more competitive — creating a healthier, more productive workforce, preserving existing jobs, and creating new jobs in the future."
"We all know the future of healthcare belongs to those who deliver more for less. The merger of Medco and Express Scripts is part of that transformation of America's healthcare system."
Express Scripts Media Contact
Brian Henry
(314) 684-6438
bhenry@express-scripts.com
Express Scripts Investor Contact
David Myers
(314) 810-3115
investor.relations@express-scripts.com
Medco Health Solutions Media Contact
Jeff Simek
(201) 269-6400
Jeffrey_Simek@medco.com
Medco Health Solutions Investor Contact
Valerie Haertel
(201) 269-5781
valerie_haertel@medco.com
For more information visit: www.betterRxcare.com
About Express Scripts
Express Scripts, Inc. (NASDAQ: ESRX), one of the largest pharmacy benefit management companies in North America, is leading the way toward creating better health and value for patients through Consumerology®, the advanced application of the behavioral sciences to healthcare. This approach is helping millions of members realize greater healthcare outcomes and lowering cost by assisting in influencing their behavior.
Headquartered in St. Louis, Express Scripts provides integrated PBM services including network-pharmacy claims processing, home delivery services, specialty benefit management, benefit-design consultation, drug-utilization review, formulary management, and medical and drug data analysis services. The company also distributes a full range of biopharmaceutical products and provides extensive cost-management and patient-care services. More information can be found at www.express-scripts.com.
About Medco Health Solutions
Medco Health Solutions (NYSE: MHS) is pioneering the world's most advanced pharmacy® and its clinical research and innovations are part of Medco making medicine smarter™ for more than 65 million members.
With more than 20,000 employees dedicated to improving patient health and reducing costs for a wide range of public and private sector clients, and 2010 revenues of $66 billion, Medco ranks 34th on the FORTUNE 500 list and is named among the world's most innovative, most admired and most trustworthy companies.
For more information, go to www.medcohealth.com.
EXPRESS SCRIPTS FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS
Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements
This material may include forward-looking statements, both with respect to us and our industry, that reflect our current views with respect to future events and financial performance. Statements that include the words "expect," "intend," "plan," "believe," "project," "anticipate," "will," "may," "would" and similar statements of a future or forward-looking nature may be used to identify forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements address matters that involve risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond our control. Accordingly, there are or will be important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in such statements and, therefore, you should not place undue reliance on any such statements. We believe that these factors include, but are not limited to, the following:
STANDARD OPERATING FACTORS
TRANSACTION-RELATED FACTORS
The foregoing review of important factors should not be construed as exhaustive and should be read in conjunction with the other cautionary statements that are included herein and elsewhere, including the risk factors included in Express Scripts' most recent reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q and the risk factors included in Medco's most recent reports on Form 10-K and Form 10-Q and other documents of Express Scripts, Aristotle Holding and Medco on file with the Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC"), including the joint proxy statement/prospectus included in the registration statement on Form S-4 filed by Aristotle Holding with the SEC, which was declared effective on November 15, 2011. Stockholders are urged to read the registration statement and the joint proxy statement/prospectus of Medco and Express Scripts contained therein (including all amendments or supplements to it) because they contain important information. Any forward-looking statements made in this material are qualified in their entirety by these cautionary statements, and there can be no assurance that the actual results or developments anticipated by us will be realized or, even if substantially realized, that they will have the expected consequences to, or effects on, us or our business or operations. Except to the extent required by applicable law, we undertake no obligation to update publicly or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future developments or otherwise.
MEDCO FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENT
This press release contains forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to, statements related to Medco's plans, objectives, expectations (financial and otherwise) or intentions. Actual results may differ significantly from those projected or suggested in any forward-looking statements. Factors that may impact these forward-looking statements include but are not limited to:
The foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. You should carefully consider the foregoing factors and the other risks and uncertainties that affect our business described in our Annual Report on Form 10-K, Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q and other documents filed from time to time with the Securities and Exchange Commission.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION AND WHERE TO FIND IT
This communication is not a solicitation of a proxy from any stockholder of Express Scripts, Medco or Aristotle Holding. In connection with the Agreement and Plan of Merger among Medco, Express Scripts, Aristotle Holding, Plato Merger Sub, Inc. and Aristotle Merger Sub, Inc. (the "Merger"), Medco, Express Scripts and Aristotle Holding have filed relevant materials with the SEC and intend to file additional materials. On November 15, 2011, the SEC declared effective the joint proxy statement/prospectus included in the registration statement on Form S-4 filed by Aristotle Holding. On November 18, 2011, Express Scripts, Medco and Aristotle Holding commenced mailing of the definitive joint proxy statement/prospectus regarding the Merger. SECURITY HOLDERS ARE URGED TO READ THE DEFINITIVE JOINT PROXY STATEMENT/PROSPECTUS AND ANY OTHER MATERIALS FILED BY EXPRESS SCRIPTS, MEDCO AND ARISTOTLE HOLDING WHEN THEY BECOME AVAILABLE BECAUSE THEY WILL CONTAIN IMPORTANT INFORMATION ABOUT MEDCO, EXPRESS SCRIPTS, ARISTOTLE HOLDING AND THE MERGER. The joint proxy statement/prospectus included in the registration statement on Form S-4 filed by Aristotle Holding and other relevant materials, and any other documents filed by Express Scripts, Aristotle Holding or Medco with the SEC, may be obtained free of charge at the SEC's web site at www.sec.gov. In addition, investors and security holders may obtain free copies of the documents filed with the SEC by directing a written request to:
Mackenzie Partners, Inc.
105 Madison Avenue
New York, New York 10016
This communication shall not constitute an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy any securities, nor shall there be any sale of securities in any jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to the registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such jurisdiction. No offering of securities shall be made except by means of a prospectus meeting the requirements of Section 10 of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended.
PARTICIPANTS IN THE SOLICITATION
Express Scripts, Aristotle Holding and Medco and their respective executive officers and directors may be deemed to be participants in the solicitation of proxies from the security holders of either Express Scripts or Medco in connection with the Merger. Information about Express Scripts' directors and executive officers is available in Express Scripts' definitive proxy statement, dated March 21, 2011, for its 2011 annual general meeting of stockholders. Information about Medco's directors and executive officers is available in Medco's definitive proxy statement, dated April 8, 2011, for its 2011 annual general meeting of stockholders. Other information regarding the participants and description of their direct and indirect interests, by security holdings or otherwise, is contained in the joint proxy statement/prospectus included in the registration statement on Form S-4 filed by Aristotle Holding and the amendments and supplements thereto.
SOURCE Express Scripts, Inc. Copyright©2010 PR Newswire. All rights reserved |