Shares of WW International rose nearly 6% in premarket trading on Monday after the company announced a new partnership with Amazon to deliver GLP-1 weight-loss drugs and other prescription medications directly to its members.
The move is part of WeightWatchers’ broader effort to expand access to obesity treatments and strengthen its digital health offering following its emergence from bankruptcy earlier this year.
Under the agreement, WW customers will be able to check whether their prescribed medications are in stock and have them delivered through the Amazon Pharmacy option available on the company’s website.
The integration will allow for faster and more reliable shipment of temperature-sensitive drugs such as injectable GLP-1 treatments, which require strict cold storage during transport.
Jon Volkmann, Chief Operating Officer at WeightWatchers, said the partnership will make it easier for members—particularly those in rural areas—to access their medications without the need to visit multiple pharmacies.
He added that while Amazon will become a key delivery partner, customers will retain the option to fill prescriptions through other pharmacies if they prefer.
WeightWatchers bets on branded GLP-1 drugs for growth
The collaboration marks the latest step in WeightWatchers’ effort to reposition itself as a modern health and telemedicine company.
After filing for bankruptcy protection earlier this year, WW emerged in July with a leaner balance sheet and a renewed focus on digital weight management.
While many competitors have turned to compounded versions of GLP-1 drugs to meet demand, WeightWatchers has chosen to align with major pharmaceutical companies producing branded versions.
The firm already has a partnership with Novo Nordisk to distribute Wegovy through NovoCare and CenterWell Pharmacy for cash-paying customers.
GLP-1 medications, such as Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy and Eli Lilly’s Zepbound, have revolutionized the weight-loss industry by helping users shed up to 15% of their body weight through appetite suppression.
Their popularity has surged since 2021, but supply shortages and high demand have created access challenges across the United States.
Amazon ramps up healthcare delivery ambitions
For Amazon, the partnership underscores its growing ambitions in the healthcare and pharmacy sectors.
The company has been investing heavily in logistics and infrastructure to make medication delivery faster and more reliable.
“We know that with GLP-1s specifically, there has been an issue where folks are pharmacy hopping, looking for that inventory,” said Tanvi Patel, vice president at Amazon Pharmacy.
She said the collaboration with WW would help streamline access for patients already struggling with limited pharmacy options.
Earlier this month, Amazon introduced in-clinic kiosks at select One Medical locations where patients can pick up common prescriptions.
However, Patel clarified that refrigerated drugs like GLP-1 injectables will not be available in kiosks and will continue to be shipped through Amazon’s mail-order system.
Amazon’s logistics network supports the cold chain requirements needed for GLP-1 shipments across the US.
Prime members typically receive deliveries within one to two days, while non-Prime customers can expect medications in about four days on average.
The company is expanding its same-day and next-day delivery services to 4,000 additional locations by the end of this year and plans to invest over $4 billion by 2026 to triple its delivery capacity.
This infrastructure push is designed to extend pharmaceutical access into smaller towns and rural communities—precisely the areas where WeightWatchers sees an opportunity to grow its telehealth footprint.
The post WeightWatchers International shares climb after partnership with Amazon Pharmacy appeared first on Invezz
