On 25 April 2012, US District Court Judge Cathy Bissoon denied a motion by the National Association of Chain Drug Stores and other pharmacy groups and retail pharmacies to block the acquisition of Medco Health Solutions by Express Scripts. The transaction had already been approved by the US Federal Trade Commission (FTC) on 2 April 2012 after an eight-month investigation. Medco and Express Scripts are two of the three largest US pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs).
Economists at NERA Economic Consulting provided advice to counsel for Medco prior to the transaction and during the FTC's investigation. NERA's work on behalf of Medco focused on analyses of Medco's historical sales and competitive bidding data. Analyses of these and other market data by NERA's team, led by Senior Vice Presidents Dr. Lawrence Wu and Dr. Thomas McCarthy, were particularly informative about the likely competitive effects of the transaction.
"As noted by the FTC, the bidding data produced by Medco, Express Scripts, and other third parties demonstrated that Medco and Express Scripts were not particularly close competitors and that other competitors have been successful in winning business away from the merging parties," said Dr. Wu. "These and other analyses were central to the FTC's conclusion that the market for PBM services was competitive and that the transaction would not have an adverse effect on the competitive dynamics."
For more information about NERA's role in Medco's acquisition by Express Scripts, please visit www.nera.com/antitrust.
About NERA
NERA Economic Consulting (www.nera.com) is a global firm of experts dedicated to applying economic, finance, and quantitative principles to complex business and legal challenges. For half a century, NERA's economists have been creating strategies, studies, reports, expert testimony, and policy recommendations for government authorities and the world's leading law firms and corporations. We bring academic rigor, objectivity, and real world industry experience to bear on issues arising from competition, regulation, public policy, strategy, finance, and litigation.
NERA's clients value our ability to apply and communicate state-of-the-art approaches clearly and convincingly, our commitment to deliver unbiased findings, and our reputation for quality and independence. Our clients rely on the integrity and skills of our unparalleled team of economists and other experts backed by the resources and reliability of one of the world's largest economic consultancies. With its main office in New York City, NERA serves clients from more than 20 offices across North America, Europe, and Asia Pacific.
Contacts:
NERA Economic Consulting
Benjamin Seggerson, 202-466-9232
Benjamin.seggerson@nera.com
