DOW JONES NEWSWIRES Walgreen Co. (WAG) and Express Scripts Holding Co. (ESRX) have agreed to dismiss claims related to a dispute in which Express Scripts accused the drugstore company of violating an agreement between the two companies while making disparaging remarks. "These dismissals have no impact on the parties' ability or inability to come to terms on a pharmacy agreement," Walgreen said Friday in a statement. An Express Scripts spokesman wasn't immediately available for comment. A complaint filed by Express Scripts in federal court in September alleged "Walgreens has launched an aggressive campaign to disparage Express Scripts, disenroll Express Scripts' commercial and Medicare Part D members and to promote and prefer other Medicare Part D programs to the exclusion of those offered through Express Scripts." Walgreen drugstores left the pharmacy-benefit manager's network at the start of the year after the companies failed to reach a contract-renewal agreement. The broken relationship meant people with drug benefits covered by Express Scripts had to find another pharmacy to get the best price when filling prescriptions, though Express Scripts has said it has had a smooth transition away from its relationship with Walgreen. -By Nathalie Tadena, Dow Jones Newswires; 212-416-3287; nathalie.tadena@dowjones.com
