OneOncology Announces Deal to Acquire United Urology Group

OneOncology, the Nashville-based management services organization (MSO) for independent cancer practices, today announced plans to acquire a urology practice group with locations in 4 states, seeking synergies that will fuel growth in both specialty practice areas.

United Urology Group (UUG), with 4 practices in Maryland, Colorado, Arizona, and Tennessee, has agreed to be acquired by OneOncology, which last year was acquired by TPG and AmeriSourceBergen in a $2.1 billion transaction. UUG has 250 physicians and advanced practice providers and 1500 total employees serving 900,000 patients a year, while OneOncology’s platform now serves 1300 cancer care providers treating 787,000 patients across 420 sites of care. OneOncology has announced 4 new practice partnerships in 2024.

Jeff Patton, MD | Image: OneOncology

“We are thrilled to partner with the physician and executive leadership of United Urology Group to continue advancing urology care, including the increasingly complex treatment of genitourinary cancers,” OneOncology CEO Jeff Patton, MD, said in a statement.

Although individual practices may combine oncology and urology care, the transaction to combine oncology and urology MSOs appears to be the first of its kind, Patton said in an interview with The American Journal of Managed Care^®. Terms of the deal, which is expected to close in the fourth quarter of 2024, were not disclosed.

There are many areas where the combined entity can find efficiencies and opportunities to better serve patients, Patton said. Areas of collaboration will include drug procurement, management of group purchasing organizations, management of radiation therapy, and clinical trials.

Already, there is some geographic overlap of OneOncology and United Urology practices, and Patton said plans for growth could could create more. The union also works well because UUG has a well-established, physician-centered culture similar to what is found within the OneOncology practices, he said.

“This will allow for seamless patient sharing, and allow us to do what we do best,” he said.

A statement from OneOncology described urologists as the “quarterbacks” for cancer care for prostate, bladder, and other genitourinary cancers, noting that prostate cancer incidence rates have grown 3% per year over the last decade. Prostate cancer is the second-leading cause of cancer death among men in the United States, according to data published annually by the American Cancer Society.

"We at UUG have built something truly unique in the urologic space, offering affiliate practices the support they need to elevate their services while reducing administrative and financial burdens for physicians,” said Ian Wong, CEO of UUG. “I am incredibly proud of our team and excited about the opportunity to unite these 2 outstanding organizations. With OneOncology's proven track record of growth, we are eager to extend our fully integrated care ecosystem to more independent urology practices. We look forward to enhancing access to high-quality ancillary services for both practices and their patients.”

Debevoise & Plimpton LLP and Sheppard Mullin served as legal counsel to OneOncology, while Ropes & Gray LLP and McGuire Woods served in the same capacity to the seller. Houlihan Lokey served as financial advisor to UUG.