NEW YORK, Jan 9, 2026, 09:35 EST — Regular session
Amazon Pharmacy said it now offers Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy pill through insurance plans and a cash-pay option, widening its push into prescription drugs as demand for weight-loss treatments spreads beyond injections. Eligible customers with commercial insurance may pay as little as $25 for a one-month supply, while customers without insurance can buy the pill starting at $149 per month; U.S. regulators approved the 25-milligram semaglutide pill in December, the company said. Amazon.com shares were down 0.7% at $244.58 in early New York trade.
The rollout matters because Amazon is trying to make its pharmacy business stick, leaning on delivery and pricing transparency to win repeat customers. Investors have watched the company’s health push for signs it can add steady revenue streams outside retail and cloud.
GLP-1 drugs — medicines that mimic a gut hormone to curb appetite and help control blood sugar — have become one of the most fought-over corners of healthcare. An oral version could pull in patients who avoid weekly injections, but coverage and access still drive who actually fills prescriptions.
Amazon Pharmacy said it will deliver the Wegovy pill across all 50 states, with same-day delivery available to nearly half of customers. “By offering Wegovy through both insurance and a straightforward cash-pay option, we’re giving people more choice, greater transparency, and fewer barriers to care,” said Tanvi Patel, vice president and general manager of Amazon Pharmacy. (Seeking Alpha)
Novo Nordisk launched the once-daily Wegovy pill in the United States earlier this week as it tries to regain ground in obesity drugs against rival Eli Lilly. The Danish drugmaker has priced the starter doses for self-pay patients at $149 per month, with higher doses priced above that level. (Reuters)
The broader market was close to flat: the S&P 500-tracking SPDR ETF was up about 0.2%, while the Nasdaq 100-tracking QQQ was little changed. Amazon has seesawed in the first full week of 2026 as traders weigh new growth angles against a still choppy rate backdrop.
But the downside case is familiar. U.S. insurers have tightened coverage for GLP-1 obesity medicines as costs climbed, forcing some patients to stretch doses or pay out of pocket — a key swing factor for volumes, whichever pharmacy fills the script.
What investors watch next is Tuesday’s U.S. consumer price index report, which could reset rate-cut expectations and risk appetite across mega-cap tech and retail. (Reuters)
