Medication management provider Omnicell Inc. has acquired dispensary company Aesynt Inc. for $275 million. The combined company’s offerings include pharmacy robots, automated intravenous systems, and logistics management software.
Aesynt and Omnicell said their automated systems can help reduce medical costs and improve patient safety. Among other products, Aesynt sells the ROBOT-Rx and PROmanager-Rx dispensing robots, the MedCarousel and PACMED inventory management systems, and the MedShelf-Rx software.
The PROmanager-Rx was rated highest among central pharmacy robots in KLAS Enterprises LLC’s annual survey of healthcare providers. It manages storage, dispensing, and inventory of prepackaged pill doses using bar codes.
Aesynt was originally founded as Automated Healthcare in 1990 and was acquired by McKesson Corp. for $65 million in 1996.
Aesynt’s Kraig McKewen stands inside Robot-Rx.
“Francisco Partners provided valuable strategic support, capital, and resources that allowed us to execute on a strategic vision that fueled new growth,” said Kraig McEwen, Aesynt CEO. “Omnicell and Aesynt share a passion for and a commitment to affordable, safe medication delivery through innovation and automation. Today, healthcare organizations embrace Aesynt’s robust medication management tools, which will complement Omnicell?s product portfolio and international footprint.”
Omnicell has a prescription for growth
Mountain View, Calif.-based Omnicell was founded in 1992, and with Aesynt, it will support a total of about 4,000 acute care facilities worldwide, have 2,200 employees, and have annual revenue of more than $650 million. Omnicell didn’t say how Aesynt’s Pittsburgh-area employees will be affected.
“By adding distinct capacities in dispensing systems, central pharmacy robotics, IV robotics, and analytics, this acquisition demonstrates our continued commitment to offer our customers leading pharmacy-automation solutions tailored to the specific needs of their facilities and patients,” said Omnicell CEO Randall Lipps.
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KLAS named Omnicell as the top pharmacy automation equipment provider for 2015, citing its OmniRx automated medication-dispensing system, WorkflowRx drug inventory management carousel, and Anesthesia Workstation.
Earlier this year, Omnicell acquired two other pharmacy automation providers, Germany-based Mach4 Pharma Systems Ltd. and U.K.-based Avantec Healthcare Ltd. Omnicell said that its goal is to be involved in medication and supply management through the entire continuum of care, from hospitals and post-acute care nursing to long-term care facilities.
Omnicell said the Aesynt acquisition, which is pending regulatory approval, should help it diversify and market its product line. The company borrowed $217.3 million from Wells Fargo Bank NA for the purchase, which it plans to discuss at the 27th annual Piper Jaffray Health Care Conference in New York on Dec. 1.
