One Medical launches $25 GLP-1 program

Amazon’s One Medical launched a nationwide GLP-1 weight-management program on April 21, adding obesity treatment to its primary care and pharmacy business. (cnbc.com) The program combines virtual and in-person visits, prescription management, and fulfillment through Amazon Pharmacy. Amazon said insured pricing can start as low as $25 a month. (cnbc.com) For people paying cash, oral GLP-1 drugs start at $149 a month, and injectable treatments including Wegovy and Zepbound start at $299 a month. Amazon also said some prescription renewals will cost $29 by message or $49 by video. (cnbc.com) GLP-1 drugs are medicines that help people feel full longer and eat less by acting on appetite and digestion. On One Medical’s weight-loss page, Amazon says a clinician decides whether a pill or injectable drug is appropriate after reviewing a patient’s goals and medical history. (health.amazon.com) Amazon says the treatment cost does not include the medication itself, and prescriptions can be sent to any pharmacy. The company is steering patients to Amazon Pharmacy with free delivery and what it calls transparent Prime pricing. (health.amazon.com) The company is also tying the launch to newer obesity drugs. On April 9, Amazon Pharmacy said it would offer Eli Lilly’s oral GLP-1 pill Foundayo with prices starting at $25 a month with insurance and $149 for cash-pay customers. (aboutamazon.com) A month earlier, Amazon Pharmacy said Zepbound KwikPen cash-pay pricing would start at $299 a month for the 2.5 milligram starter dose. That March announcement also said Amazon had been delivering GLP-1 medications since 2021. (aboutamazon.com) One Medical is selling this as ongoing care, not a one-off prescription. Its public page promises a dedicated provider, follow-up support, and help with insurance prior authorization over time. (health.amazon.com) Amazon is also using One Medical’s existing membership funnel. Prime members can buy a One Medical membership for $99 a year, while on-demand virtual care on Amazon starts from $29 or $49 depending on the visit type. (health.amazon.com ) Investors read the launch as a competitive move into a crowded obesity-drug market. CNBC reported shares of Hims & Hers Health, Viking Therapeutics, Amgen, and Septerna fell after Amazon announced the program. (cnbc.com) The pitch is simple: use One Medical for evaluation and follow-up, then use Amazon Pharmacy to get the drug delivered. Amazon is trying to make weight-loss treatment look like another routine primary-care service in its app. (cnbc.com)