By Mackenzie Tatananni
Much of the conversation around weight-loss drugs has centered on Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk, two rivals locked in a fierce battle to corner the market. But that narrow focus ignores a new breed of disruptors outside the pharma world. On Tuesday, Amazon became the latest to crash the party.
The tech behemoth unveiled a dedicated "GLP-1 Management Program" through its primary care arm, Amazon One Medical. The division was formed through the company's 2023 acquisition of One Medical, and offers both in-person and telehealth visits.
Amazon, which has operated an online pharmacy since 2020, described the initiative as an integration of "primary care, pharmacy services, and virtual care options to help patients achieve lasting weight loss results."
The news delivered a blow to Lilly and Novo stocks, which lagged behind the broader market Tuesday. Lilly declined 2.4% while Novo's U.S.-listed shares tumbled 3.7%. The benchmark S&P 500 was down just 0.2%.
Growing competition could be one reason. Amazon's entry into GLP-1 medications is nothing new -- in fact, Lilly announced just last week that it would make its Foundayo weight-loss pill available through Amazon Pharmacy along with a handful of telehealth providers. Novo struck a similar agreement to sell oral Wegovy through the platform earlier this year.
However, the latest initiative could steal business away from the drugmakers' direct-to-consumer platforms, LillyDirect and NovoCare. Amazon is promising Zepbound and Wegovy injectables starting at $299 a month for cash-paying customers
That's comparable to LillyDirect pricing for Zepbound. Novo sells its Wegovy pen for as little as $199 a month as part of an introductory offer for self-pay patients, with the price rising to $349 after two months.
To sweeten the deal, Amazon is providing same-day delivery to nearly 3,000 cities, with plans to expand to 4,500 by the end of the year. Patients with existing prescriptions who aren't Amazon One Medical patients can access on-demand, 24/7 renewals starting at $29.
And there's even more at play. If clinicians with Amazon One Medical are the ones deciding which drug to prescribe, this undercuts the power of the drug companies' direct marketing to the public.
Amazon isn't the only retailer attempting to get in on the GLP-1 game. Just last week, Walmart unveiled "support services" through its Better Care platform, which connects third-party virtual care providers with patients.
Write to Mackenzie Tatananni at mackenzie.tatananni@barrons.com
This content was created by Barron's, which is operated by Dow Jones & Co. Barron's is published independently from Dow Jones Newswires and The Wall Street Journal.
(END) Dow Jones Newswires
April 21, 2026 13:30 ET (17:30 GMT)
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