- March 13, 2018
The retail giant has stayed quiet about its pharma ambitions; however, a Goldman Sachs analyst in August 2017 outlined some potential pharmaceutical strategies the company might use. Now, Leerink Partners has published a report saying the category-killer is in talks with mid-size Pharmacy Benefits Managers (PBMs) “in an effort to get into various contract arrangements,” according to multiple media reports.
A potential entrance into the drug business could take 18 to 24 months, according to Leerink; however, Amazon could be a “bigger threat” to the pharmaceutical status quo than many appreciate.
There is plenty of reason Amazon might want to get into the drug supply chain. According to the Goldman Sachs analysis, the field is worth $125 billion each year, or 30% of U.S. net pharma spending. To start, the company might offer a strong user experience and a top-notch logistics network, later looking to change transparency dynamics on pricing, according to the Goldman analysts.
Goldman Sachs analysts published their 30-page report in August as a way to spark conversation among investors about Amazon’s options in pharmaceuticals. They said the company might partner with a PBM as a “path of least resistance.” Other routes into pharma for Amazon would be as an online pharmacy, a retail plus online pharmacy, an integrated PBM or a distribution player to pharmacies, according to Goldman.
However, the PBM space is dominated by a few major players, and any potential disruptor would need to build up scale to make meaningful change. Other complexities such as pricing could pose challenges for Amazon in the field.
Talk of Amazon’s entry into the drug supply chain comes as tensions have been somewhat strained between pharmaceutical companies and drug middlemen, amid ongoing public angst over drug prices. Drug companies have been blaming growing PBM rebates for a rise in prices, while PBMs say their tough negotiations save the health systems billions in costs.
REFERENCE: Fierce Pharma; 21 SEP 2017; Eric Sagonowsky