Chain Drug Consortium opposes ESI-Medco merger

BOCA RATON, Fla. — The Chain Drug Consortium on Thursday dispensed a formal letter to the U.S. Federal Trade Commission expressing its opposition to the proposed merger of pharmacy benefit management companies Express Scripts and Medco Health Solutions.

The correspondence indicated the consortium’s opposition based on the merger’s negative effect on the consumer public, patients and pharmacies, as a result of exercising undue market power over the brand and generic prescription drug supply chain. "We are greatly concerned that the planned merger will dilute patient care and restrict patient choice to pharmacy access,” stated Edward Frisch, Chain Drug Consortium president and CEO.

The Chain Drug Consortium consists of 18 retail chain members, representing more than 1,150 stores, more than 2,300 pharmacists and more than 40,000 employees.