The prescription savings platform GoodRx launched its new e-commerce solution on Thursday with over-the-counter birth control pill Opill as its launch partner. It follows another announcement the company made in the women’s health space last week: new affordability programs for menopause hormone therapies from Pfizer.
Santa Monica, California-based GoodRx helps consumers compare prescription drug prices and get coupons. Through the new e-commerce solution, consumers can order health products and medications (such as Opill) on the GoodRx website and have them delivered to their homes. The company’s partnership with Perrigo, the maker of Opill, is GoodRx’s first collaboration in the over-the-counter space.
The e-commerce solution offers “that full seamless flow of someone being able to buy [Opill] and have it delivered to them, which makes total sense in birth control for privacy,” said Dorothy Gemmell, chief commercial officer at GoodRx, in an interview at the recent HLTH conference. “Also the generation taking birth control, they get everything else delivered. Why walk into a pharmacy?”
In July 2023, Opill was approved by the Food and Drug Administration as the first birth control pill available over the counter in the U.S. It is a progestin-only daily oral contraceptive and does not require a prescription. The approval of the pill was significant for its potential to greatly expand access to contraception, particularly for those who are uninsured or don’t have a regular physician (though some insurance plans are also covering Opill, according to its website). On GoodRx’s platform, Opill costs $49.99 for a three-month pack.
Last week, GoodRx also announced new affordability programs for menopause hormone therapies with Pfizer. Eligible patients with a prescription can find exclusive cash prices for Pfizer’s menopause hormone therapies at over 70,000 pharmacies across the country through GoodRx. For example, consumers can purchase Prempro for about $98.84 on GoodRx, compared to the retail price of $372.99. It treats hot flashes and prevents osteoporosis. They can also get Estring (which treats vaginal irritation and dryness) at $249, versus the retail price of $655.89. They can get these drugs at a variety of pharmacy chains, including CVS, Walgreens, Walmart and Costco.
Research from GoodRx shows that list prices for menopause medications have risen by 58% since 2014. There is also uneven insurance coverage for menopause drugs, with some drugs having better coverage than others. In addition, those with menopause pay 45% more on healthcare costs than those who aren’t experiencing menopause, according to another study.
“Women in general, in healthcare, have been subject to what we call the ‘Pink Tax,’” Gemmell said. “Women pay more for healthcare overall, even if you take maternity out of it.”
In total, GoodRx works with over 150 brands, including pharmaceutical manufacturers and medical device companies, and more than 50 pharmaceutical brands are providing cash price options on the GoodRx platform. The company announced on Tuesday that the weight management solution QSYMIA is available for an exclusive cash price of $149 for a 30-day supply. In July, it began offering Boehringer Ingelheim’s Humira biosimilar for $550 per two-pack.
Photo: FotografiaBasica, Getty Images
