The new division, SpecialtyFirst, will be responsible for creating a national network of independent pharmacies within the Pharmacy First affiliates to improve the distribution and access to specialty pharmaceuticals. According to Brian Huckle, CEO of Wholesale Alliance LLC/Pharmacy First, the new division will work closely with manufacturers and managed-care organizations to establish and implement disease-state and drug-specific programs that cover the education, procurement, and patient-monitoring requirements associated with specialty pharmaceuticals.

In announcing the new division, Huckle points out that the focus will be to “clearly demonstrate that the retail pharmacist can perform within established protocols designed specifically for the specialty patient.”

Pharmacy First is now headquartered in Overland Park, Kan. It was created 12 years ago by the Wholesale Alliance, a national consortium of regional pharmaceutical distributors. The network currently has more than 4,000 participating retail pharmacies in all 50 states.