Walmart To Launch Its Own Low-Cost Brand Insulin

Walmart will launch its own private brand insulin for people with diabetes as the battle for U.S. prescriptions with pharmacy rivals Amazon, Walgreens and CVS Health intensifies.

The move to offer a lower cost analog insulin, which could tap a market of more than 34 million Americans with diabetes, is the latest effort of the retail giant to expand deeper into pharmacy and outpatient healthcare services.

Walmart earlier this year offered a new drug discount program for employers, is launching its own telehealth services and has been offering more outpatient care via healthcare “super centers.” It’s an evolution for the retailer that began more than a decade ago when Walmart grabbed headlines for rolling out hundreds of generic prescriptions for just $4.

“Diabetes is one of the fastest growing diseases in the country,” Walmart Health & Wellness executive vice president Dr. Cheryl Pegus said. “We know many people with diabetes struggle to manage the financial burden of this condition, and we are focused on helping by providing affordable solutions. We also know this is a condition that disproportionately impacts underserved populations.”