PillPack is widely recognized as the online, full-service pharmacy Amazon acquired last year. However, hidden from the public are several facts about the history of the online pharmacy and some specifics of its services.
Nine facts to know about PillPack:
1. PillPack's founders. A pharmacist and engineer duo founded PillPack in 2013. TJ Parker, PharmD, who now serves as CEO, earned his pharmacy degree from Boston-based Massachusetts College of Pharmacy and Health Sciences. Elliot Cohen, who now serves as chief product officer, graduated from University of California Berkeley with degrees in computer science and neuroscience. He also earned an MBA from the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.
2. PillPack's early days. Pillpack was launched in February 2013. Just five months later, in July 2013, PillPack had already raised more than $4 million in funding. After raising enough money, PillPack's first pharmacy launched in February 2014. In the very early days, PillPack had just 50 customers and nine employees, according to CNBC.
3. PillPack's growth. The online pharmacy grew fast. By June 2015, the company had already shipped more than 1 million drug packages and Wired magazine called PillPack "the pharmacy of the future," according to CNBC.
4. PillPack's bidders. It appeared PillPack would be sold to Walmart in April 2018, but it was outbid by Amazon.
5. PillPack's magazine. PillPack sponsors and publishes an online magazine called Folks. The magazine publishes stories to highlight people with chronic conditions who refuse to be defined by their health issues. It is accepting pitches from new writers.
6. PillPack's locations. PillPack has locations nationwide, but its primary pharmacy is in Manchester, N.H.
7. PillPack's in-network options. PillPack is in-network with major pharmacy benefit managers, including CVS Caremark, Express Scripts and OptumRx. As a result, it is also in-network with most major Medicare Part D plans.
8. PillPack's technology platform. PillPack uses PharmacyOS, an in-house software platform, to help manage customer's medications, coordinate refills and renewals and ensure timely shipments.
9. PillPack's pricing. All medications dispensed from a PillPack pharmacy are shipped to patients. PillPack customers pay the insurance co-pay or any out of pocket costs; however, shipping is always free.