MEGAGIANT online retailer Amazon is said to be in discussions with generic pharmaceutical manufacturing companies around its potential entry into the pharmacy sector, according to a report from CNBC.
Major generic manufacturers Mylan and Sandoz have reportedly been in talks, which would place Amazon in direct competition as purchasers of generic drugs, with distributors like McKesson, AmerisourceBergen, and Cardinal Health, dominant wholesalers in the US.
Although there have been no further details, the report is not inconsistent with earlier whispers about Amazon's pharmacy sector inclinations (PD 30 Oct 17).
It has been confirmed that the company has received approval from regulators in twelve US states to do business as a pharmacy wholesale distributor.
Approvals have been granted in Nevada, Arizona, New Jersey, Louisiana, Alabama, Idaho, New Hampshire, Oregon, Michigan, Connecticut and Tennessee.
However Amazon would still need to obtain a pharmacy license in order to ship prescription drugs directly to consumers, analysts explained.
No further reports have indicated suspected timings for Amazon's entry into the Australian pharmacy or wholesale pharmaceutical market.
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