Maryland is again poised to pay St. Louis-based Express Scripts Inc. $2.4 billion to manage the prescription drug program for its employees, retirees and their dependents.

That decision would cap a nearly year-long battle between the company and Rockville-based Catalyst Rx, the state’s current pharmacy benefits manager, over who holds such a lucrative state contract. Maryland’s Board of Public Works, the state’s top contract-approving panel, could agree to the five-year deal Wednesday.