SPAARx Celebrates Official Launch at 2013 Armada Specialty Pharmacy Summit in Las Vegas

The Specialty Pharmacy Association of America (SPAARx), the largest national association representing the broad interests of the specialty pharmacy industry, celebrated its official launch at the 2013 Annual Armada Specialty Pharmacy Summit in Las Vegas, NV, on May 8, 2013 where more than 2300 attendees applauded the efforts and pledged to support the vision of the new SPAARx association.

The Specialty Pharmacy Association of America, started by a coalition of leading nationally ranked specialty pharmacies, announced that it had successfully recruited nearly 3500 members since January of this year. The membership represents more than 650 individual companies of all types, all of whom are stakeholders in the specialty pharmacy industry.

"The interest across the specialty pharmacy industry for a new association has been nothing short of overwhelming," said Bill Sullivan, Interim executive director of the Specialty Pharmacy Association of America. Sullivan continued, "Once we announced the formation of SPAARx, individuals with an interest in the growth and success of the specialty pharmacy industry responded. They immediately saw value in our mission to protect and promote interests common to the specialty pharmacy industry, foster professional growth, and sustain the development and success of specialty pharmacy nationally." Sullivan also noted, "SPAARx is a unique association because it is founded and governed by specialty pharmacy providers, all of whom are experts with the knowledge and vision to help guide the future of this industry."

With the official launch of SPAARx this month corporations from across the specialty pharmacy industry began to pledge their support to sustain the efforts and activities of SPAARx. Current Founder Sponsors include Armada Health Care, Cardinal / OncoSource, Astellas Pharma,US, Prime Therapeutics, ReCept Specialty Pharmacy, Humana / Right Source, Salveo Specialty Pharmacy, AcariaHealth, Amber Specialty Pharmacy, Avella Specialty Pharmacy, Catamaran, MedImpact and TEVA Pharmaceuticals.

SPAARx has accomplished the following over the past three months: Established itself as the largest national Specialty Pharmacy Association with more than a dozen special committees that are made up of a variety of industry stakeholders. The work of these committees and the board include the publishing of a comprehensive Definition of Specialty Pharmacy which is currently being adopted throughout the industry, a complete Glossary of Terms commonly used in Specialty Pharmacy, successful lobbying for a clear distinction between Specialty Pharmacy and Compounding Pharmacy (these terms were mistakenly interchanged by non-industry entities), published a White Paper on Sequestration along with a position letter sent to Congress while also hosting a national webinar covering the implications of the detrimental budget cuts on the specialty pharmacy industry.

About Specialty Pharmacy Association of America (SPAARx)

SPAARx is the largest national Association solely dedicated to the interests of all individuals in the specialty pharmacy segment of healthcare. SPAARx is managed and governed by an independent board of directors comprised of executives from a diverse group of specialty pharmacies. This association is vendor-neutral and fully-aligned with the interests of all industry stakeholders. SPAARx is setting the standards, leading in advocacy and promoting the value of specialty pharmacy. The association's goal is to protect and promote common industry interests along with fostering professional growth within specialty pharmacy. To learn more about SPAARX or join today, please visit www.spaarx.org