Amazon enters weight-loss market with $25 GLP-1 drug program

Amazon is leveraging its vast logistics network to enter the booming GLP-1 market, offering popular weight-loss drugs like Wegovy and Zepbound with same-day delivery and prices starting as low as $25 per month.

Amazon launched a comprehensive weight-management program Tuesday through its One Medical division, integrating primary care with its pharmacy to streamline access to popular GLP-1 drugs for as little as $25 a month. The move intensifies competition in the rapidly growing obesity care market, directly challenging telehealth incumbents like Hims & Hers Health.

"Providing customers with fast, convenient medication access and clear, transparent pricing is integral to how Amazon Pharmacy is transforming the pharmacy experience," Tanvi Patel, vice president and general manager of Amazon Pharmacy, said in a company press release.

The program combines virtual and in-person consultations with prescription fulfillment, offering injectable treatments like Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy and Eli Lilly’s Zepbound starting at $299 per month for cash-paying patients. Oral medications will start at $149 per month without insurance, prices that align with the current market but are paired with Amazon's significant logistics advantage.

By embedding GLP-1 treatment within primary care, Amazon aims to treat obesity as a long-term chronic condition, a more integrated approach than standalone telehealth services and a direct response to reports of inconsistent clinical oversight in the burgeoning market.

A New Front in Telehealth Competition

Amazon's entry comes just days after Walmart unveiled its own GLP-1 platform, signaling a major push by retail giants to capture a share of the surging demand for weight-loss therapies. The announcement immediately impacted competitors, with shares of Hims & Hers Health falling as much as 10% in early trading. Hims & Hers, which has built a subscriber base of 2.5 million, now faces a formidable rival with a vast logistics network and a hybrid care model spanning over 200 One Medical offices.

"We don't feel like weight lives in a silo," Hemalee Patel, senior medical director at One Medical, told Axios, emphasizing the need to manage related conditions like diabetes and high blood pressure alongside weight loss. This integrated model is positioned as a safer alternative to some existing telehealth options, which have faced scrutiny for gaps in care. One Medical executives noted that some patients have arrived from other providers "malnourished" or on improper doses.

Pricing, Access and the Compounding Crackdown

A key pillar of Amazon's strategy is transparent pricing and convenient access. Beyond the insured price of $25 per month, the company is offering on-demand prescription renewals starting at $29 for a message-based consultation. Furthermore, Amazon plans to expand its same-day drug delivery service from nearly 3,000 cities to 4,500 by the end of 2026, leveraging its core logistical strength.

The launch also coincides with a broader regulatory focus on the GLP-1 market. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration recently issued warning letters to several telehealth firms for illegally marketing unapproved "compounded" versions of GLP-1 drugs. By partnering directly with manufacturers like Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly to provide FDA-approved medications, Amazon is positioning its service as a more reliable and regulated option for consumers.

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute investment advice.