In 2024, pharmacies dispensed an estimated $265 billion in specialty medications — an 8% increase from the year prior, according to Drug Channels.
Compared to 2023, BrightSpring Health Services increased its specialty prescription revenue 42%, and PANTHERx Rare Pharmacy saw a 31% rise.
CVS, Cigna’s Express Scripts and UnitedHealth Group’s Optum Rx — the nation’s three largest pharmacy benefit managers — retained their long-held status at the top, accounting for two-thirds of specialty prescription revenue last year.
The top 15 specialty pharmacies by U.S. prescription revenue in 2024:
1. CVS Specialty (CVS Health) — $77.2 billion
2. Accredo/Freedom Fertility (Cigna/Evernorth/Express Scripts) — $65.2 billion
3. Optum Specialty Pharmacy (UnitedHealth Group/Optum Rx) — $35.2 billion
4. Walgreens Specialty Pharmacy/Walgreens stores (Walgreens Boots Alliance) — $25.9 billion
5. Other retail, mail, long-term care and specialty pharmacies — $22.7 billion
6. Onco360 Oncology Pharmacy/CareMed Specialty Pharmacy (BrightSpring Health Services) — $6.5 billion
7. CenterWell Specialty Pharmacy (Humana) — $6.3 billion
8. Kroger Specialty Pharmacy/BioPlus Specialty Pharmacy (Elevance Health) — $5 billion
9. PANTHERx Rare Pharmacy (Independent) — $4.7 billion
10. Walmart Specialty Pharmacy/Walmart stores (Walmart) — $3.8 billion
11. Acaria Health/Foundation Care (Centene) — $2.8 billion
12. Biologics (McKesson) — $2.5 billion
13. Senderra Specialty Pharmacy (Independent) — $2.1 billion
14. AHF Pharmacy (AIDS Healthcare Foundation) — $2.1 billion
15. Lumicera Health Services (Navitus Health Solutions) — $1.8 billion
