Amazon finds it's not so easy to sell drugs and nixes one plan entirely: CNBC
fiercepharma | April 17, 2018
Amazon's potential leap into pharmaceuticals has weighed on drug distributors and pharmacies for months, but those companies are getting relief from news that the online retail giant has put at least one of its plans on ice. CNBC reported that Amazon Business a unit that sells bulk products to companies hasn't been able to convince hospitals to get on board with its plan. One reason: The company doesn't have a proper cold-chain logistics network, which is crucial to distributing many drugs, according to CNBC's sources. Amazon has now backed away from the effort, the publication reported. This doesn't mean drug suppliers should rest easy, however. The company is pressing ahead with other healthcare projects, though it's unknown whether they involve pharmaceutical sales. Among those are programs underway with Alexa and at the "1492" team, according to CNBC.