Amazon reportedly rescinded an application for a wholesaler pharmaceutical license in Maine, according to analyst insights cited by CNBC.
The Maine Board of Pharmacy's website indicates an application from Amazon was withdrawn Dec. 1, RBC Capital Markets analysts George Hill, Stephen Hagan and Lee Lueder wrote in a research note Tuesday.
In October, news broke that Amazon had pharmacy licenses in more than 10 states, fueling rumors of the retailer's potential entrance into the pharmaceutical supply chain. However, RBC analysts believe Amazon's apparent cancellation of the Maine application contradicts a potential pharmacy entrance.
"In Maine, a medical device license was not needed for the sale of medical supplies so industry sources have implied the Maine license was a strong leading indicator of whether or not Amazon would enter the drug supply chain," analysts wrote in the research note, according to CNBC. "We see this cancellation as a negative indicator of the likelihood that Amazon enters pharmacy in the near term and thus as a positive for the pharmacies and drug supply chain."
Amazon did not respond to CNBC's request for comment.
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