title: Diversified Pharmaceutical Services
text: 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.
  
  References
  
  Health maintenance organizations
  Life sciences industry
  Medical and health organizations based in Missouri
  1994 mergers and acquisitions
  1999 mergers and acquisitions