By Elsie Kamsiyochi
Amazon is making another major move into the healthcare and pharmaceutical industry by expanding access to Novo Nordisk’s popular diabetes medication Ozempic through its growing pharmacy network in the United States. The company announced that customers will soon be able to purchase Ozempic through Amazon Pharmacy kiosks while also gaining access to same-day delivery services in thousands of locations nationwide.
The expansion marks another step in Amazon’s effort to become a dominant force in healthcare, an industry the tech giant has steadily entered over the last several years through online prescriptions, telehealth services, and its One Medical clinics. By adding Ozempic to its rapidly expanding pharmacy operations, Amazon is targeting one of the most in-demand drug categories in the world: GLP-1 medications.
Ozempic, developed by Novo Nordisk, contains the active ingredient semaglutide and is primarily prescribed to help patients with type 2 diabetes control blood sugar levels. The medication works by improving insulin response and regulating appetite and glucose production. Although Ozempic is officially approved for diabetes treatment, it has also gained enormous attention globally because of its weight-loss effects, fueling unprecedented demand for GLP-1 drugs.
Amazon has already been selling Novo Nordisk’s weight-loss treatment Wegovy since January. Wegovy contains the same active ingredient as Ozempic but is specifically marketed for obesity and weight management. In April, Amazon also added Eli Lilly’s rival weight-loss pill Foundayo to its pharmacy lineup, signaling an aggressive push into one of the fastest-growing sectors of modern medicine.
According to Amazon executives, the company wants to simplify access to important medications while reducing the barriers many patients face when filling prescriptions. Tanvi Patel, a vice president at Amazon, said the company is focused on giving customers reliable and convenient access to the latest treatments, particularly medications that are increasingly essential for chronic disease management.
Unlike injectable versions of GLP-1 medications, the pill version of Ozempic does not require refrigeration. That allows Amazon to stock the medication directly inside its pharmacy kiosks, making pickup easier and cheaper for customers. The kiosks are located at select One Medical locations and were originally designed to improve prescription access for everyday medications such as antibiotics, asthma inhalers, and blood pressure treatments.
Amazon said roughly half of its U.S. customer base already has access to same-day medication delivery. The company plans to expand the service significantly over the next several months, growing from approximately 3,000 locations today to about 4,500 by the end of the year. Customers outside same-day delivery zones are expected to receive medications within four days.
Patients with a valid prescription will reportedly be able to purchase the Ozempic pill through Amazon Pharmacy for around $149 per month when paying cash, while insured customers could pay as little as $25 depending on their healthcare coverage.
The move reflects the increasingly fierce competition among major pharmaceutical companies and healthcare providers as demand for diabetes and weight-loss drugs continues to surge worldwide. Analysts believe oral GLP-1 medications could dramatically expand the market because pills are often viewed as more convenient and less intimidating than injections for many patients.
Amazon’s healthcare ambitions have accelerated rapidly since its acquisition of One Medical and its multibillion-dollar investments into logistics and delivery infrastructure. The company spent more than $4 billion last year to expand and speed up deliveries, especially in smaller towns and rural communities where pharmacy access can sometimes be limited.
Importantly, Amazon said customers do not need a One Medical subscription to access appointments and use the pharmacy kiosks, although the company continues to promote its healthcare membership program, which currently costs $199 annually.
As the popularity of GLP-1 medications continues to reshape both the pharmaceutical and healthcare industries, Amazon’s latest move positions the company at the center of a rapidly growing market that is expected to generate billions of dollars in future sales while transforming how patients receive medications.
Source: Reuters
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