EmpiRx Health Partners with Giant Eagle to Transform Pharmacy Benefits Care

• Leading Food, Fuel and Pharmacy Retailer Giant Eagle, Inc. Selects EmpiRx Health to Manage the Pharmacy Benefits of its Employees
• EmpiRx Health's Clinically-Driven PBM Model Leverages Pharmacists to Optimize Utilization of High Cost Specialty & Branded Medications, Controlling Costs
• EmpiRx Health and Giant Eagle Partner to Create National Network of Pharmacy Chains and Benefits Plan Sponsors to Improve Patient Health Outcomes and Impact Drug Spending

MONTVALE, N.J., April 24, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- EmpiRx Health, the leading clinically-driven pharmacy benefits management (PBM) company that puts pharmacists at the center of its service model, today announced that Giant Eagle, Inc., a leading food, fuel and pharmacy retailer, has selected EmpiRx Health to manage the pharmacy benefits of its employees. EmpiRx Health is collaborating closely with Giant Eagle's team of expertly trained pharmacists to provide its employees with the highest quality pharmacy care while partnering to control prescription drug costs. Giant Eagle operates more than 200 pharmacies throughout Western Pennsylvania, North Central Ohio, Northern West Virginia, Maryland, and Indiana.

EmpiRx Health and Giant Eagle also announced today that they are working together to create a national network of pharmacy chains and benefits plan sponsors who will collaborate on transforming pharmacy benefits care. The primary goals of the new network will be to improve patient health outcomes and help solve the national crisis of skyrocketing drug costs. These rising prescription drug costs pose a serious challenge to the healthcare system, especially the private benefits plans that more than 180 million Americans rely on for their healthcare.

Prescription drug costs have been rising by more than 5% a year and are a primary driver of overall healthcare spending in the US. The problem is especially acute in the specialty drugs category. From 1990 to 2024, the FDA has gone from approving just 10 specialty medications to nearly 400 that are available today. Currently, 80% of the new drugs being approved by the FDA are specialty medications.

"At Giant Eagle, we have always been laser focused on what's best for our customers and Team Members," said Janis Leigh, Executive Vice President and Chief People Officer, Giant Eagle, Inc. "EmpiRx Health's patient-first operating approach ensures that our Team Members can receive the highest quality pharmacy benefits and care, ensuring their health and well-being and providing affordable prescription drug costs."

"EmpiRx Health is an innovative partner that puts the pharmacist at the center of pharmacy care," said Jim Tsipakis, Giant Eagle's President, Supermarkets & Pharmacy. "We are excited not only for the benefits our Team Members will receive, but also for the unique opportunity ahead to bring together other pharmacy chains and benefits plan sponsors to improve health outcomes for all patients."

"We are thrilled to be Giant Eagle's new PBM provider," said Danny Sanchez, Chief Executive Officer of EmpiRx Health. "From our very first discussions with the Giant Eagle team, it was clear they were looking for a PBM partner that put their interests, and those of their employees, first. We do that by always staying focused on improving the health outcomes of Giant Eagle's employees, while helping the company to significantly reduce its drug spending and costs through our unique pharmacist-led PBM model."

In addition to its pharmacist-led pharmacy care approach, EmpiRx Health provides proven, powerful benefits to Giant Eagle and other clients and their members, including:

• Guaranteed Clinical Savings – We guarantee clients a 3:1 ROI on clinical savings. If we fail to meet this clinical savings guarantee, we pay clients back dollar for dollar.
• Member Care Advocacy – EmpiRx Health's Member Care Advocates proactively reach out before common issues arise, ensuring the members feel well cared for.
• Open Formulary – We offer one of the only open formularies in the PBM industry, meaning more coverage and less disruption for members.
• Best-in-Class Service – EmpiRx Health is widely known for its high-touch, leading-edge client service. That's one reason why we have an industry-leading client retention rate.

About EmpiRx Health
EmpiRx Health is the leading clinically-driven, customer-first pharmacy benefits management (PBM) company that puts the pharmacist at the center of the pharmacy care model. Leveraging our AI-powered pharmacy care platform, Clinically™, EmpiRx Health's clinical pharmacists and client experience teams provide the highest quality care and service. This enables plan sponsors to measurably improve their member health outcomes while substantially reducing prescription drug costs. With major offices in Montvale, NJ and Orlando, FL, EmpiRx Health celebrated its 10-year anniversary in 2024. To learn more, visit www.empirxhealth.com. More information on Clinically can be found at www.clinically.co.

About Giant Eagle
Giant Eagle, Inc., ranked among the top 50 on Forbes magazine's largest private corporations list, is one of the nation's largest food retailers and distributors, with approximately $11.1 billion in annual sales. Founded in 1931, Giant Eagle, Inc. has grown to be a leading food, fuel, and pharmacy retailer in the region, with more than 470 stores throughout western Pennsylvania, north central Ohio, northern West Virginia, Maryland, and Indiana.

Contacts:

For EmpiRx Health:
Stephanie Cox
Phone: (201) 775-6971
Email: [email protected]

For Giant Eagle, Inc.
Dan Donovan
Phone: 412.967.4551
Email: [email protected]

SOURCE EmpiRx Health