Bergen Brunswig Corp.: The company said Thursday...

Bergen Brunswig Corp.: The company said Thursday that it has signed a five-year “sole source” agreement to distribute pharmaceuticals in the United States for Columbia/HCA Healthcare Corp.

Bergen Brunswig said the pact, which takes effect Jan. 1, could be worth as much as $2 billion over the life of the contract.

Based in Orange, Bergen Brunswig has annual revenue of about $7.5 billion, making it the nation’s largest supplier of drugs to hospitals and managed-care facilities. It also sells medical and surgical products through a subsidiary.

Columbia/HCA, based in Louisville, Ky., is a health-care services provider that operates 195 hospitals and 125 outpatient centers in 34 states, England and Switzerland.