Amazon has expanded its digital pharmacy offerings by adding Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy weight loss pill to its platform, marking a significant step in the company’s ongoing push into the health-care sector. As of the rollout on Monday, the oral version of Wegovy, which had previously been available only as an injectable, is offered at a starting monthly price of $149 for patients without insurance. For those with coverage, the cost can be reduced to as little as $25.
This new entry into the market is noteworthy, as it comes with some of the most competitive pricing in the rapidly growing obesity and diabetes drug sector. Traditional offerings in this space have been dominated by costly weekly injections from companies like Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly. By making Wegovy available on Amazon, the pharmaceutical leader aims to reach a wider audience and engage patients through channels beyond conventional pharmacy settings.
Amazon has announced plans to further enhance access to Wegovy by making it available through prescription vending kiosks located in select One Medical clinics. This initiative follows Amazon’s 2020 launch of its pharmacy services, which stemmed from its acquisition of the online pharmacy PillPack in 2018. The company deepened its health-care involvement with its $3.9 billion acquisition of primary-care clinic chain One Medical last year.
Listeners can expect that Amazon will continue to attract customers through the promise of swift delivery options and transparent pricing. The e-commerce giant reports it can deliver prescriptions on the same day to nearly half of U.S. consumers. While specific user numbers for Amazon Pharmacy remain undisclosed, analysts estimate it could generate approximately $2 billion in annual revenue.
In an additional collaborative effort, Weight Watchers recently announced a partnership with Amazon Pharmacy to facilitate weight loss medication delivery for its members, indicating a strategic alliance that could bolster both entities. Amazon has also partnered with Eli Lilly to distribute certain prescriptions, including their obesity drug Zepbound.
Apart from Amazon, Wegovy is now available through over 70,000 pharmacies across the United States, including major chains such as CVS and Costco, as well as telehealth services like Ro, LifeMD, and GoodRx.
Interestingly, cash-paying patients will have another option through President Donald Trump’s direct-to-consumer website, TrumpRx, which is set to offer the starting dose of the pill for the same $149 monthly fee under an agreement Novo Nordisk made with the previous administration.
Health experts suggest that the availability of oral medications like Wegovy could make a significant impact on the accessibility of obesity treatments in the U.S. By appealing to individuals who may be averse to needles or who view injections as too aggressive, these oral alternatives could help broaden the pool of patients seeking treatment.
In the competitive landscape of obesity medications, Eli Lilly is expected to gain FDA approval for its own oral obesity pill later this year, indicating a promising future for various pharmaceutical approaches to weight management.
