Kevin Cast, Vice President, Strategy & Contracting, Pharma & Biotech, Express Scripts

Specialty pharmaceuticals, and the supporting patient and physician ancillary services, have emerged as a focal point for the majority of manufacturers. The increasing number of specialty drugs available in the United States, coupled with the heightened research and development focus of major pharmaceutical manufacturers on biotech therapies, has resulted in an unprecedented shift in dynamics across the prescription drug industry.

Specialty drug manufacturers are under pressure to reduce costs associated with patient access solutions and FDA-mandated REMS programs.