NowRx

About NowRx

NowRx operates as a technology-driven pharmacy, aiming to overhaul the traditional retail pharmacy experience through a model centered on efficiency and convenience. The company was co-founded in 2015 by CEO Cary Breese and CTO Sumeet Sheokand. Breese, a multi-time CEO with a background in leading tech startups that disrupt legacy industries, and Sheokand conceived the business plan after recognizing the inefficiency of waiting in line at a pharmacy. They launched their first fulfillment center in January 2016.

The business functions by eliminating physical retail locations and instead uses low-cost, highly automated micro-fulfillment centers. This strategy allows NowRx to offer free, same-day delivery for prescription medications. For more urgent needs, an expedited one-hour delivery is available for a $5 fee. Revenue is generated from payments for prescription and over-the-counter items, with the company accepting most major insurance plans and charging customers their standard co-pay. The target market consists of any consumer who uses a retail pharmacy, particularly those who value the convenience of home delivery, such as patients with chronic conditions or those wishing to avoid exposure in crowded pharmacies.

At the core of NowRx's operation is its proprietary pharmacy management software, QuickFill. This system automates many aspects of the prescription process, including billing, insurance verification, and fulfillment coordination. When a doctor sends a prescription, NowRx's system processes it, and robots can sort, count, bottle, and label the medication in under 30 seconds. The platform also includes a consumer-facing app for tracking orders and a logistics app called Wheelz for its HIPAA-trained drivers. Beyond prescription delivery, the company expanded its offerings to include telehealth services, starting with NowPrEP, a service for pre-exposure prophylaxis that includes physician assessment, lab testing, and home delivery. In November 2022, Alto Pharmacy acquired NowRx's patient files in California.