Amazon expands GLP‑1 access

Amazon has started a nationwide weight-management program through One Medical and Amazon Pharmacy that gives patients new paths to get GLP-1 obesity drugs such as Wegovy and Zepbound. (aboutamazon.com) The program combines virtual visits, in-person primary care, prescription management and pharmacy fulfillment inside Amazon’s health business. Amazon said insured patients can pay as little as $25 a month for GLP-1 drugs, while cash prices start at $149 a month for oral medicines and $299 a month for injectables. (cnbc.com) Amazon also said patients with an existing prescription can get renewal visits starting at $29 for message-based care and $49 for video care. The company is pairing the program with same-day pharmacy delivery in nearly 3,000 cities, with a plan to reach 4,500 cities by the end of 2026. (aboutamazon.com 1) (aboutamazon.com 2) GLP-1 drugs mimic a gut hormone that helps control blood sugar and appetite, which is why the same class is used in diabetes care and obesity treatment. Amazon is pitching the new service as ongoing care, with regular monitoring and treatment plans, instead of a one-time prescription. (aboutamazon.com) The launch lands in a market where demand for weight-loss drugs has surged and access has often been uneven because of cost, insurance rules, shortages and follow-up requirements. CNBC reported investors immediately read Amazon’s move as new competition, sending shares of Hims & Hers Health, Viking Therapeutics, Amgen and Septerna lower on April 21. (cnbc.com) Amazon has been building toward this since it bought One Medical in February 2023 and folded it into a broader push across primary care, telehealth and pharmacy delivery. Prime members can buy a One Medical membership for $99 a year, compared with $199 a year for non-Prime members, according to Amazon and One Medical. (aboutamazon.com) (amazon.com) One Medical now operates as both a membership primary-care service and a pay-per-visit telehealth business, which gives Amazon more ways to route patients into drug treatment and refills. Amazon said One Medical has more than 150 offices across the United States and nationwide 24/7 virtual care. (aboutamazon.com) Scripps News, in a report carried by News 5 Cleveland, said the program could also shift where patients fill prescriptions as Amazon adds more direct delivery options for high-demand obesity drugs. Amazon’s bet is that faster refills, posted prices and fewer handoffs between doctor and pharmacy will keep more patients on treatment. (news5cleveland.com)