HEALTHCARE CONSOLIDATION

Consolidations continue to be the word in healthcare.  We ended 2018 with Takeda-Shire transaction closing for $62 billion with a primary focus on rare disease.  BMS topped this transaction early in January agreeing to buy Celgene and their Oncology portfolio for $74 Billion. Eli Lilly acquired Lexo Oncology for $8 billion expanding its oncology portfolio.

In late February Roche agreed with U.S.-based gene therapy specialist Spark Therapeutics for $4.3 billion. Basel-based Roche is buying Spark as rivals, including Novartis, also move aggressively into gene therapy, where treatments for rare, inherited diseases command some of the highest prices in medicine. Spark’s blindness therapy Luxturna is approximately $850,000 per patient.

Much of this consolidation has happened because of drug price pressures, looming patent cliff in 2024 with $251 Billion in drugs and the opportunity to strengthen drug pipelines especially in oncology and rare diseases.

Pharma isn’t the only place where consolidation is taking place.  In 2018 there were 90 healthcare system mergers which were close to the 115 transactions that occurred in 2017. Similar themes like the pharmaceutical industry to include financial pressures, value-based reimbursement, shrinking hospital margin and record healthcare spending.

Dignity Healthcare and Catholic Health Initiative finalized their deal early in 2019 with a new name Common Spirit Health. This system will have close to 139 hospitals and 700 sites of care in 28 states with $30 billion in revenue.

Baylor Scott and White called off their merger with Memorial Herman Health systems.  This would have been one of the largest healthcare systems in the country with 68 hospitals and $14 billion in revenue.  The decision to scrap the deal was not because of finances.  Some think it was because of the overlap of services and the mismatch of missions.  Many studies suggest that healthcare consolidation means increased medical cost.

Hackensack Meridian expands its behavioral health capabilities by finalizing its deal with Carrier Health based in Belle Meade, NJ. This will allow the health system to treat mental health and opioid addiction more effectively.

BioScrip, Inc. and Option Care Enterprises, Inc. the nation’s largest independent providers of home and alternate treatment site infusion therapy service are merging. The combination is expected to create a leading independent provider in the $100 billion U.S. infusion market. The home infusion market makes up approximately 12% of this market and is growing 5-7% a year.  Expected benefits include cost efficiencies, improved patient care, and more therapy offerings

A private equity firm will buy GE’s ambulatory care and workforce management software for $1.05 Billion in cash.  Amazon, Berkshire Hathaway & J.P Morgan healthcare venture finally has a name: “Haven.” The company said the name choice of “Haven” lines up with its mission to be a “partner” to care, providers, & to focus on healthcare.

A lot has happened in the 1st quarter of 2019 and expect more.  Follow the Brooks Group to stay up to date on the latest healthcare market trends. In this merger-frenzy era, The Brooks Group ensures your customer-facing team can still gain access to key healthcare stakeholders and proactively engage them in a process to uncover their critical issues business & clinical issues around Quadruple Aim. Armed with these superior insights your Team will be able to build and position the unique value proposition that delivers mutual benefit.

This blog was originally posted at https://thebrooksgrouponline.com/2019/03/healthcare-consolidation/