Eli Lilly Joins Forces With Amazon Pharmacy for Drug Deliveries

Eli Lilly has announced a partnership with Amazon Pharmacy to facilitate the delivery of specific prescription drugs, including the popular weight loss medication Zepbound, directly to patients’ doorsteps through LillyDirect, the drugmaker’s newly established direct-to-consumer platform.

As of Wednesday, Amazon Pharmacy is now able to deliver certain drugs from Eli Lilly that are prescribed for conditions such as obesity, diabetes, or migraines to eligible patients who order them through LillyDirect. This collaboration marks Amazon Pharmacy as the second online pharmacy to join Eli Lilly’s platform, promising two-day deliveries to qualifying patients.

LillyDirect serves as a conduit between patients and an independent telehealth provider, allowing eligible individuals to receive prescriptions online. Moreover, for medications supplied by Eli Lilly, the platform offers a convenient home-delivery option, employing a third-party online pharmacy to fulfill prescriptions directly.

The initiative, launched in January, aims to streamline access to Zepbound and other medications, eliminating the traditional process of visiting a doctor for a prescription and subsequently heading to a pharmacy for fulfillment.

This move by Eli Lilly and Amazon comes amidst a surge in demand for weight loss medications like Zepbound. However, Eli Lilly has grappled with meeting this demand, resulting in intermittent shortages over the past year.

Although Eli Lilly has not disclosed the number of patients utilizing LillyDirect, significant interest has been observed since its inception. The company plans to expand its offerings and partnerships in the future.

Amazon Pharmacy, known for its free two-day deliveries for Prime members, extends this benefit to LillyDirect users as well. This collaboration aims to provide a seamless customer experience with swift delivery times.

In addition to home delivery, Amazon Pharmacy offers access to clinical pharmacists around the clock, providing support and addressing queries regarding prescribed medications.

This collaboration underscores Amazon’s increasing presence in the healthcare sector, following its acquisition of PillPack in 2018 and the subsequent launch of Amazon Pharmacy in 2020. With the landscape of healthcare delivery evolving, partnerships like these are expected to reshape the way patients access essential medications.