** Drug distributors ended 2024 on a high note as they expanded their presence in the specialty medicines market that treats complex conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and cancer due to their high-profit margins

** Cardinal CAH.N, Cencora COR.N and McKesson MCK.N grew 17.4%, 9.2%, 23% respectively this year

** The companies had a spree of acquisitions in 2024 as they chose to double down on growing business

** In August, MCK bought a controlling stake in community cancer center Florida Cancer Specialists & Research Institute's business and administrative services unit for $2.49 bln

** CAH played "catch up", spending more than $6 bln in four deals this year, while COR struck a $4.6 bln deal to add nearly 300 eye specialists to its portfolio of physician management services in November

** The S&P 500 Health Care Distributors Sub Index .SPLRCHCSS grew 13.9% this year

(Reporting by Puyaan Singh)

((Puyaan.Singh@thomsonreuters.com;))