Statistics show that within the first year of treatment more than half of all patients in the United States abandon their prescribed therapy.  In other cases, medicines that should be prescribed in accord with the latest treatment guidelines are not ordered.  In Germany, for example, every fifth medical prescription is not filled at a pharmacy.  In Europe, the costs of poor patient compliance are estimated to amount to 200 to 300 billion Euros per year.  This is, among other factors, because patients are often hospitalized when their condition -- which could have been stabilized by being adherent -- further deteriorates.

Medco has been offering a broad portfolio of advanced, clinically driven services in the United States very successfully for many years.  In diabetes care, for example, Medco studies in the U.S. have shown that implementing advanced pharmacy techniques reduces overall per-patient medical spending by nearly 50 percent, as adherence improves, largely by reducing the need for hospitalizations.

The joint venture will cooperate closely with health policymakers, funding bodies, pharmacies, health care providers and their umbrella organizations, producers of pharmaceuticals, patients' associations and leading research institutes.

"We will strive to earn a position as the trusted partners of healthcare payors, as they achieve a financially sustainable model for providing needed access to quality care.  We will serve to advocate for patients, who through our extended services will become empowered, educated and active participants in their care," said Snow.  "We will become a resource for medical practitioners, who are relieved from bureaucratic tasks and can focus on treating their patients using the latest evidence-based protocols.  We will help retail pharmacies by delivering advanced safety systems and consultative tools that will help them achieve higher patient compliance.  And we will support pharmaceutical manufacturers to demonstrate increasing value by reaching the most appropriate patient groups with the most effective medicines."

The joint venture is an important strategic step for both Celesio and Medco to speed entry into new markets with important new clinical services.  The legacy businesses of both parties, however, are not included as part of this joint venture.

"The healthcare markets provide innovative companies with immense growth-potential.  Medco's clinical solutions combined with Celesio's pan-European reach and healthcare expertise provide much needed solutions for some of the most pressing problems in the European healthcare systems," said Oesterle. "The joint venture's businesses integrate the competencies of both companies into innovative, efficient solutions for the benefit of patients and payors.  At the same time, it will also give new opportunities to the business of our existing customers as potential partners cooperating with the joint venture."

SOURCE Medco Health Solutions, Inc.