In November, Cardinal Health acquired a majority stake in GI Alliance for $2.8 billion, one of the largest transactions in the gastroenterology space in recent years.
Here are five key takeaways from the deal:1. The acquisition reflects a growing trend of pharmaceutical-focused healthcare companies entering the physician practice space, according to a blog post from VMG Health. Dublin, Ohio-based Cardinal Health, traditionally known for distributing pharmaceuticals and medical products, is now among a new wave of buyers that includes insurers, pharma companies and medical equipment distributors. These entities are increasingly pursuing physician group acquisitions to create vertically integrated care platforms.