Medco's Q4, fiscal-year sales rise

FRANKLIN LAKES, N.J. — Sales at Medco Health Solutions increased to $16.9 billion during fourth quarter 2010 and to $66 billion for the fiscal year as a whole, representing respective 11.1% and 10.3% increases over the same periods the year before, the pharmacy benefit manager said Tuesday.

Profits for the quarter were $378.5 million, a 10.8% increase over fourth quarter 2009, while profits for the year were $1.4 billion, an 11.5% increase over fiscal year 2009.

Specialty pharmacy sales for the quarter were nearly $3 billion and were more than $11.3 billion for the year, representing respective increases of 21.3% and 19.1% over the year before. The generic dispensing rate increased by 3.9% to 72.2% for the quarter, while increasing by 3.5% to 71% for the year as a whole.