Long-dreaded Amazon.com threat to drug middlemen draws close

(FILES) This file photo taken on December 28, 2016 shows the logo of US electronic commerce and cloud computing company Amazon in Vertou, France. Amazon said January 18, 2018 it had narrowed to 20 its options for a second headquarters for the sprawling technology and lifestyle company headed by Jeff Bezos, the world's richest individual. After 238 cities from North America submitted bids, Amazon announced its short list included three in the vicinity of the US capital Washington, and the Canadian city of Toronto. / AFP PHOTO / LOIC VENANCE

A day that prescription-drug middlemen had long feared finally arrived. 

The industry awoke to the news Jan 30 that Amazon.com Inc was joining with Berkshire Hathaway Inc and JPMorgan Chase & Co to form a new health-care business, in an attempt by three of the world’s best-known companies to contain the spiralling cost of keeping their US workers healthy.