Evernorth Health Services has made an investment of $3.5bn in Shields Health Solutions in the US to strengthen its position in the speciality medicine market.
This investment, which was made in the preferred form of stock, aligns with Shields' transition to a private, standalone company after it was acquired by Sycamore Partners.
This comes after Sycamore successfully acquired Walgreens Boots Alliance in August 2025.
The Cigna Group, Evernorth Health Services' parent company, has stated that this investment is not anticipated to significantly affect its 2025 adjusted earnings per share guidance, which is projected to be at least $29.60.
The Cigna Group chairman and CEO David Cordani said: “Demand for speciality medications continues to grow at an accelerated pace, and Evernorth is uniquely positioned to serve the rapidly expanding number of individuals living with complex and chronic conditions and the doctors who care for them.
“Investing in Shields aligns with our commitment to delivering exceptional care across health care settings, from home to a physician’s office or clinic, to hospital.”
Shields assists health systems and hospitals in establishing and managing speciality pharmacies on their own. The company collaborates with over 80 health systems, encompassing more than 1,000 clinics and hospitals throughout almost all 50 states.
Evernorth presently offers support to patients with specialised medical conditions and their healthcare providers via a range of services, including medicine distribution, direct-to-patient pharmacies, home and ambulatory infusions, and inventory management technology.
The investment in Shields enables Evernorth to explore further opportunities to assist healthcare providers and patients, enhancing the continuity of care across specialised settings. It also provides the potential for further investment in Shields in the future.
Shields CEO Michael Ham said: “Both Sycamore’s acquisition of Shields and Evernorth’s support for the transaction demonstrate clear validation of our successful health system-focused speciality pharmacy strategy and patient-focused care model.”
