Amazon holds wholesale pharmacy licenses in 12 states

Mackenzie Bean (Twitter) -

Amazon has slowly acquired more than 10 wholesale pharmacy licenses from state boards in the past year, fueling rumors over the retailer's potential entrance into the pharmaceutical supply chain, according to the St. Louis Post-Dispatch.

The newspaper reviewed public records and discovered Amazon holds licenses in at least 12 states: Alabama, Arizona, Connecticut, Idaho, Louisiana, Michigan, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, North Dakota, Oregon and Tennessee. The company also has an application pending in Maine, according to the report.

It's not clear whether the licenses reflect Amazon's potential involvement in the drug supply chain. However, Leerink Partners analyst Ana Gupte said the move "strengthens our conviction on the likely entry into the drug supply chain," according to the Post-Dispatch.

"It is still not clear if [Amazon] will pursue a buy or partner with an existing [pharmacy benefit manager] or build such capabilities from within," she added.

Amazon declined the Post-Dispatch's request for comment.

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