• Georgia: UPS has agreed to acquire Canada's Andlauer Healthcare Group for $1.6 billion, expanding its growing business of transporting healthcare goods for customers. Andlauer is a supply chain management company that specializes in temperature-controlled transportation services for medical treatment. Under the deal, Andlauer will become part of UPS Healthcare's global network, and its founder and CEO Michael Andlauer will lead both Andlauer and UPS Canada Healthcare. According to Kate Gutmann, an EVP and president of international, healthcare, and supply chain solutions at UPS, the acquisition will allow the company to expand its capabilities for customers and contribute to overall growth plans. "Next-generation treatments are driving more complexity than ever, expanding the needs of healthcare customers and increasing demand for the integrated, end-to-end cold-chain solutions UPS Healthcare provides," Gutmann said. UPS is aiming to earn $20 billion in revenue in its health segment by 2026, double its revenue from 2023. (Clough, Bloomberg/Modern Healthcare, 4/24; Stewart, Wall Street Journal, 4/24)
• Illinois: Walgreens has agreed to pay up to $350 million to resolve a lawsuit from the Department of Justice (DOJ) alleging that the company filled millions of invalid prescriptions for opioids and other controlled substances. According to DOJ, its claims are only allegations, and there has been no determination of liability. The settlement amount is based on Walgreens' ability to pay, and if the company is sold, merged, or transferred before 2032, the settlement would increase by an additional $50 million. In March, Sycamore Partners announced that it would purchase Walgreens for $10 billion, taking the company private. "Pharmacies have a legal responsibility to prescribe controlled substances in a safe and professional manner, not dispense dangerous drugs just for profit," said Attorney General Pamela Bondi. "This Department of Justice is committed to ending the opioid crisis and holding bad actors accountable for their failure to protect patients from addiction." (Morse, Healthcare Finance, 4/23)
• Maryland: Novavax announced that its protein-based COVID-19 vaccine is on track for full FDA approval after a slight delay from its original April 1 target date. Currently, Novavax's vaccine is only available under emergency use authorization while Pfizer's and Moderna's mRNA vaccines have received full approval. With full approval, Novavax will be able to keep its vaccine on the market indefinitely instead of being potentially removed by FDA. Recently, FDA asked Novavax develop a plan to collect additional clinical data from patients who have received the vaccine. In a statement, Novavax said that it is "engaging with the FDA expeditiously" in hopes of receiving approval "as soon as possible." (Perrone/Neergaard, Associated Press, 4/23)

Host Rachel Woods invites healthcare strategy expert Colin Gelbaugh and pharmacy expert Gina Lohr to discuss disruptors and the growing competition in the healthcare industry.