Amazon delivers insulin, obesity and migraine medications for Lilly
Amazon is fulfilling online orders of select prescriptions for a major pharmaceutical company.
Amazon Pharmacy is now offering U.S. home delivery of select medications through the LillyDirect online portal of global pharmaceutical provider Lilly. Amazon Pharmacy is serving as a third-party dispensing provider for LillyDirect Pharmacy Solutions, delivering prescribed Lilly medications directly to a patient’s home.
Medications include several varieties of insulin, as well as the weight loss drug Zepbound (tirzepatide) and migraine medication Emgality (galcanezumab-glmn). As part of the collaboration, Amazon pharmacists can support medication management by providing guidance on administration techniques, drug interactions, side effects and cost considerations.
Pharmacists can also assist with reminder tools to help patients stay consistent with their medication schedule. Amazon Pharmacy’s clinical team is available 24/7 to respond to care questions and support care.
"Treating diabetes and obesity can slow or prevent the onset of cardiovascular disease, reducing the risk of heart attack or stroke, as well as reducing the risk of some cancers, osteoarthritis, and more," Dr Vin Gupta, chief medical officer, Amazon Pharmacy, said in a corporate blog post. "We’re pleased to work with Lilly to reimagine a pharmacy experience that can support better care outcomes. Physicians may send prescriptions to LillyDirect Pharmacy Solutions or to Amazon Pharmacy."
A full list of Lilly medicines currently available via LillyDirect can be found at https://lillydirect.lilly.com/medicines.
Amazon moves into pharmacy, healthcare with diabetes focus
Amazon launched Amazon Pharmacy, which allows U.S. customers to order prescription medications for home delivery, with free two-day delivery for Amazon Prime members, in November 2020. The offering represented a major push by Amazon into a $300 billion market that was previously dominated by pharmacy giants such as CVS Health, Walgreens and Rite Aid, along with supermarkets and discounters that offer prescriptions, such as Walmart.
Amazon has also been focusing on providing insulin to diabetes patients. In August 2023, Amazon’s automatic prescription couponing program began automatically applying manufacturer-sponsored coupons directly to Amazon Pharmacy orders for more than 15 insulin and diabetes care brands from eligible customers.
In other pharmacy and healthcare moves, in January 2023, Amazon Pharmacy launched RxPass, an offering for U.S. Prime members in most states enabling them to order as many prescriptions as they need from a list of some 50 generic drugs — for a flat monthly add-on fee of $5 to Prime membership, with no other mark-ups.
In July 2022, Amazon entered into an agreement to acquire One Medical, a membership-based primary healthcare provider, for $3.9 billion, its third-biggest acquisition to date. And in November 2022, the e-tailer rolled out its new Amazon Clinic virtual healthcare solution in 32 states.