The Vitamin Shoppe’s latest prescription offering is here.
Tuesday, the retailer is rolling out testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) prescriptions to its telehealth platform Whole Health Rx, which first launched in May with weight loss drugs like Ozempic.
“We’re always listening to our customers. We’re seeing what’s happening in the market. Our testosterone boost [supplement] sales are up 10 percent this year,” said The Vitamin Shoppe chief executive officer Lee Wright. “We’re seeing continued focus amongst our male customers looking for testosterone support.”
With that in mind, Whole Health Rx will now offer Kyzatrex, an FDA-approved soft gel oral testosterone medication that is taken twice daily. In clinical trials, the drug has shown that 88 percent of users reached normal testosterone levels within 90 days.
While The Vitamin Shoppe’s in-store customers are seeking out testosterone support, data also indicates that there is a growing need for solutions. Across studies published on the National Institutes of Health National Library of Medicine, up to 20 million men in the United States could be experiencing testosterone deficiency, also known as hypogonadism, which can lead to health issues.
“Testosterone replacement therapy can significantly improve energy levels, muscle mass and libido in males with a diagnosed deficiency in their testosterone levels,” said Mutahir Farhan, MD, a member of The Vitamin Shoppe’s Wellness Council. “It helps enhance mood, cognitive function and overall well-being. Additionally, TRT can aid in reducing the risks of cardiovascular diseases by maintaining optimal hormone levels.”
Since launching Whole Health Rx, The Vitamin Shoppe has begun rolling out signage and dedicated support sections for its weight loss drug offering and will similarly approach the testosterone launch.
“We will then put up some signage within our stores, and it’s going to naturally be in men’s health as well as some other areas to say, ‘Hey, this is also an option,’” Wright said. “[Customers] can scan a QR code and then go through that process if they so choose.”
That being said, Wright emphasized that, as has been The Vitamin Shoppe’s ethos since 1977, the company will first suggest customers try changing daily habits, like diet and sleep, and experimenting with supplements before trying pharma. The addition of these drugs is to ensure the retailer is offering an entire suite of solutions to address the customer’s needs.
“We want to make sure that we’re providing that holistic, comprehensive solution to our consumers,” Wright said. “We want to give them all the options that they may feel make the most sense for them.”
In doing so, this also marks an evolution for the overall business as The Vitamin Shoppe will continue to expand its telehealth arm.
“This isn’t a short-term play to take advantage of what is the craze of the moment,” Wright said. “This comes back to making sure that The Vitamin Shoppe is top of mind when people think about their long-term health and wellness journey… We’re trying to broaden our scope to better serve our customers.”
While the company can’t comment on how Whole Health Rx is performing specifically due to HIPAA laws, there are more prescription launches on the horizon, likely at the beginning of 2025. Wright did not offer up specific prescription additions but pointed out other areas of interest, such as hair loss, smoking cessation and allergies.
