Walmart pushes beyond prescriptions in GLP-1 race
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Walmart is making a play to own what it calls the "last mile" of the GLP-1 boom, telling Axios exclusively it's launching a platform that goes beyond prescriptions to combine virtual care and nutrition.
Why it matters: Weight-loss treatments like Ozempic, Wegovy and Zepbound are exploding, but the real friction is everything around them. The retail giant is betting it can simplify that fragmented system.
The big picture: Walmart unveiled an expansion of its Better Care Services platform Thursday, adding new weight-management offerings for customers on or exploring GLP-1s, Kevin Host, Walmart's senior vice president of pharmacy, told Axios.
- The platform connects customers with vetted providers offering weight management, mental health and urgent care, including partners like Aaptiv, Berry Street, Curai Health, MyCare by Twin Health and Wheel.
State of play: As demand for GLP-1s surges, telehealth companies and platforms — including Weight Watchers, Noom and Hims & Hers — are racing to offer access.
- That's led to confusion around compounded versions of the drugs, which aren't Food and Drug Administration-approved.
- Walmart says it will only offer FDA-approved GLP-1s — not compounded versions.
- Its approach also combines provider access with pharmacy, delivery and retail — something telehealth-first players can't easily match.
How it works: Customers can connect with third-party providers for prescriptions and ongoing care, while Walmart handles prescription fulfillment, including in-store pharmacy support and delivery in as little as an hour.
- The platform offers guidance and support to help customers navigate GLP-1 use, including diet changes and issues like side effects.
- Pricing varies by provider, with some services offered free or via promotions, while others charge monthly fees or per-visit rates — for example, virtual care programs can range from about $29/month to $99 per visit. Some services may be covered by insurance.
- The company is also rolling out a free GLP-1 digital hub to guide customers and connect them with related products.
What they're saying: "What we're trying to do is bring medication and lifestyle support in the weight management space all together," Host said.
- "We're looking to make the experience affordable, fast and convenient," Host added.
By the numbers: Walmart operates roughly 4,600 pharmacies nationwide, supported by about 15,000 pharmacists.
- Its footprint puts it within 10 miles of about 90% of Americans, Host said, noting the company has a presence in roughly 4,000 medically underserved communities.
Between the lines: Walmart is trying to move beyond simply filling prescriptions and instead become the default platform for managing life on GLP-1s.
- Host said the effort reflects Walmart's broader "Live Better" mission, which increasingly includes health care.
What's next: Access to GLP-1s is poised to expand — and fast.
- New pill versions of the drugs could bring in patients who've avoided injections or found treatment too complicated.
- A Medicare "Bridge" program launching July 1 will offer eligible seniors lower-cost access, potentially opening the market to millions more patients, Host said.
The bottom line: Walmart is betting the future of GLP-1s isn't just the drug — it's everything around it.
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