Diversified Pharmaceutical Services
# Diversified Pharmaceutical Services

Diversified Pharmaceutical Services entered the market in 1976 as the pharmacy benefit manager for United HealthCare, a leading managed care organization. It pioneered many cost containment strategies that are now core pharmacy benefit manager services and became a recognized leader in clinical programs.

## History

Diversified Pharmaceutical Services (DPS) grew out of the pharmacy department within United Healthcare.

The company was sold to SmithKline Beecham for $2.3 billion in May 1994. In 1999, it was acquired by Express Scripts in 1999 for $700 million in cash to create what was then the third largest pharmacy benefit manager in the United States.

