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FLINT, Mich. — Diplomat Pharmacy is updating its 2018 financial guidance and providing a preliminary 2019 outlook in connection with its presentation today at the JP Morgan Healthcare Conference in San Francisco.
Diplomat now expects 2018 revenue to be at the lower end of the previously communicated $5.5 to $5.7 billion range and adjusted EBITDA to be at the higher end of the previously communicated $164 to $170 million range.
- 2018 revenue is expected to be within the range of $5.5 billion and $5.6 billion.
- 2018 adjusted EBITDA is now expected to be within the range of $167 million and $170 million, an increase of at least 64% based on the low end of the 2018 range vs. 2017.
- Diluted GAAP EPS 2018 is expected to range from ($0.08) to $0.00.
- Net debt, including contingent consideration at December 31, 2018 is expected to be approximately $630 million.
Brian Griffin
The company also announced that Joel Saban, president of Diplomat, and Albert Thigpen, president and chief operating officer of CastiaRx, are leaving the company effective immediately. The company has initiated searches for their replacements. chairman and CEO Brian Griffin will directly oversee CastiaRx and the operational review of that business pending completion of the search.
Griffin commented, “Diplomat delivered strong revenue and EBITDA growth in 2018 despite challenges in our CastiaRx PBM segment. Solid specialty growth, robust infusion performance, and better than expected synergy capture following completion of the PBM integration drove 2018 results, and investments we have made in sales, systems, processes and facilities are expected to drive future growth and profitability, positioning the company well for 2019 and beyond.”
Griffin noted that Diplomat has been selected by Hospitality Rx as the exclusive provider of specialty pharmacy services for its UNITE HERE HEALTH (UHH) plan members. UHH is a multiemployer union plan that provides health benefits to approximately 250,000 members across the nation.
In addition, Diplomat announced a partnership today with CSI Specialty Group, a globally recognized specialty pharmacy consulting firm. Diplomat will provide limited-distribution drugs and specialty care management solutions to health system clients.
“These recent contract awards are evidence that the payer sales strategy launched in early 2018 is gaining traction,” said Griffin. “Payers are increasingly interested in Diplomat’s specialty and infusion services on a carve-out basis as they focus on improved patient care and driving down total healthcare costs. We continue to see interest and are in discussions with mid and large-tier health plans looking to enhance the management of not only their specialty pharmacy benefit, but also their specialty medical drug benefit. We expect to announce additional awards in the coming months as we leverage coordinated sales and clinical efforts across specialty and infusion.”
