How InStockRx helps pharmacies save on brand medications

Case study 01

Recovering value on surplus brand inventory

Brand medications are a different problem than generics. When a patient on a high-cost specialty brand switches therapies or moves to a different pharmacy, the remaining inventory does not just represent a slow mover. It represents thousands of dollars sitting on a shelf with an expiration date.

For the team at this independent pharmacy, this became a recurring issue with specialty brand products ordered to support a small patient base. When those patients transitioned, the pharmacy was left holding inventory it could not easily return and did not have the volume to use before expiration.

A colleague introduced them to InStockRx at a state pharmacy association meeting. Within a week, they had listed their surplus brand inventory. Two of the listings sold within 72 hours to pharmacies that needed exactly what they had on hand.

“On brand medications, the dollar amounts are significant. Recovering even 70 or 80 cents on the dollar versus a write-off is a completely different outcome for a small independent.”

The DSCSA documentation came through the platform, covering the T3 requirements for the transfer. The paperwork the team had been cautious about was captured automatically, without extra administrative work on their end.

The pharmacy now lists surplus brand inventory on InStockRx as a standard step before writing anything off.

→ Read: How to optimize pharmacy cash flow with surplus inventory

Case study 02

Sourcing brand fill-ins between distribution cycles

For a regional pharmacy group with four locations, brand medication shortages between distribution days are an operational reality. The standard solution, placing an emergency order through a distributor, often comes with a premium that erodes margins on medications that are already expensive to carry.

The operations manager started using InStockRx to source brand fill-ins from other pharmacies when urgent needs came up. By sourcing on InStockRx, the group reduced brand acquisition costs, averaging $390K in annual savings per buyer vs NADAC, avoiding the emergency distributor premiums that typically cut into their margins.

“With brand medications, you know the reference points. If another pharmacy is listing something at a price that works for both sides, it is a straightforward decision.”

Beyond fill-ins, the group also began listing their own surplus brand inventory through the platform. Across four locations, consolidating overstock on high-cost brands and moving it before expiration became a meaningful part of their inventory strategy.

The compliance team reviewed the T3 documentation generated through InStockRx and confirmed it met DSCSA requirements for their records.

“That was the key question we had going in. The documentation held up.”