The Business Problem:

Hungry for More: Ready to Scale Beyond Success

When Dr. Stephen Vogt reached out to Rhythm Systems in 2012, BioPlus Specialty Pharmacy was already a success story. As a leading provider of medications for patients with serious conditions like cancer, arthritis, and immune system disorders, BioPlus had achieved $126 million in annual revenue by prioritizing exceptional patient care.

But for Dr. Vogt, success wasn’t enough. He envisioned a company that would grow even faster and make an even greater impact on the lives of patients. He was looking for a partner to help him craft a strategy that would take BioPlus to the next level—leading him to Rhythm Systems.

How Rhythm Helped:

A Shift in Perspective That Transformed the Business, and Coaching That Sparked a New Vision

Rhythm CEO and coach Patrick Thean knew how important it was for BioPlus to design their strategy around the needs of their Core Customer; this would help them gain focus and streamline their products and services.  

BioPlus worked with various stakeholders, including doctors, patients, insurance companies, and pharmaceutical suppliers. During one of their strategic planning sessions with Patrick, they suggested that their Core Customer must be the referring doctors, or perhaps the insurance companies.

“But, what about the patients who actually take your medicines?” Patrick asked, reminding the team that their Core Customer was the primary person using their product and services. 

This question sparked an epiphany. “The patient is the one who is sick and who needs treatment,” said Dr. Vogt. “It’s for the patient that we have to create a fantastic customer experience.” 

This shift in perspective became the cornerstone of BioPlus’s transformation.

Building the Business Around the Core Customer

At the time, patients often had to wait over ten business days (84 hours) to receive approval for their medication. For individuals battling life-threatening diseases, this long wait added unnecessary stress and pain. BioPlus decided to radically improve the patient experience by committing to approve prescriptions in just two hours—40 times faster than their competitors.

To achieve this, they needed full alignment across the company. Rhythm’s coaching and software helped BioPlus develop a disciplined execution plan. They broke down the high-level goal into actionable quarterly milestones, assigned clear ownership for each milestone, and committed to weekly check-ins to make adjustments as needed. When a project fell off track, the team didn’t wait—they immediately problem-solved together, ensuring they stayed on course.

The Results:

Unprecedented Growth (and Recognition)

This new approach revolutionized patient service and yielded remarkable results for BioPlus. In three years, they grew from $176 million in revenues to over $800 million. 

In 2023, they were purchased by Elevance, part of the Nautic Partners portfolio of companies, for a large, undisclosed sum. The new owners had commissioned McKinsey & Company to identify the best specialty pharmacy in the United States—and they found it was BioPlus. 

With the help of Patrick’s coaching and the Rhythm software and methodology, Dr. Vogt led BioPlus to achieve outstanding outcomes: 

• 10x Growth in 10 Years
• #1 Rated Specialty Pharmacy in the U.S. by McKinsey
• 140% Revenue Growth for 3 Consecutive Years Through New Customer Base

Sadly, Dr. Vogt passed away in 2022. Everyone who had the privilege of working with him—the Rhythm team included—was deeply impacted. His humble leadership and commitment to helping patients is an endless source of inspiration.