McKesson has planned to enhance its oncology platform with a significant investment of approximately $2.5 billion into the business and administrative services subsidiary of a community oncology clinic group. The deal involves McKesson acquiring a 70% stake in Core Ventures, a company recently formed by the Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute (FCS).
FCS is a large cancer care organization headquartered in Fort Myers, with over 250 oncologists, 280 cancer specialists, and nearly 100 branches across Florida. Despite the acquisition, FCS will remain a separate entity under the ownership of its physicians, who collectively retain a minority interest in Core Ventures, which is now majority-owned by McKesson.
Once the transaction meets certain closing conditions and receives regulatory approvals, Core Ventures will be integrated into McKesson’s oncology platform. McKesson CEO Brian Tyler stated that this expansion will improve the quality of treatment by offering better solutions and experiences for patients over time, as well as reducing healthcare costs. He further noted that the patient-centric development strategy pursued by FCS and Core Ventures aligns with McKesson’s vision of fostering clinical growth and extending quality cancer care to more people.
The acquisition will also connect FCS to McKesson’s U.S. Oncology Network, which consists of over 60 care delivery locations and 2,500 associated physicians. This partnership will provide FCS with the benefits of McKesson’s oncology products and services. FCS CEO Nathan Walcker expressed his enthusiasm about the collaboration, highlighting that both organizations aim to build a strong foundation in the fight against cancer, ultimately improving outcomes for oncology patients.
This acquisition is part of a broader trend in which community-based oncology practices have become attractive targets for healthcare, pharmaceutical, and supply distributors. Recent reports from Bloomberg have confirmed that other industry giants, including Cencora and Cardinal Health, have also shown interest in FCS. Once the deal is finalized, FCS’s physician owners will remain significantly invested in the institute; however, they will not control the decisions made by the institute.
