GreatNorthPharmacy.com, OverTheBorderMeds.com, and BuyCanadianInsulin.com become the first accredited pharmacy websites eligible to market refrigerated medications dispensed through a PharmacyChecker Cold-Chain Certified dispensing pharmacy
WHITE PLAINS, NEW YORK – July 22, 2026 – PharmacyChecker, an independent watchdog organization dedicated to helping consumers safely identify and compare affordable sources of prescription medication, today announced that GreatNorthPharmacy.com, OverTheBorderMeds.com, and BuyCanadianInsulin.com are the first international online pharmacy websites approved to market refrigerated medications through a PharmacyChecker Cold-Chain Certified dispensing pharmacy.
This milestone represents a significant advancement in expanding access to lower-cost prescription drugs for patients who rely on refrigerated medications by ensuring that websites and pharmacies in the PharmacyChecker Network meet PharmacyChecker's rigorous Cold-Chain Certification standards.
Until now, PharmacyChecker had not approved any international online pharmacy websites to market refrigerated medications through its International Pharmacy Verification Program (IPVP) because no participating dispensing pharmacy had demonstrated compliance with the organization's stringent Cold-Chain Certification requirements.
As a result, PharmacyChecker.com's drug price comparisons for refrigerated medications, including Lantus SoloStar, Trulicity, Zepbound, Mounjaro, and other temperature-sensitive medications, now include options dispensed through PharmacyChecker Cold-Chain Certified pharmacies, many of which offer substantially lower prices than U.S. retail pharmacies. According to PharmacyChecker price comparisons, type 2 diabetes medicine Trulicity is priced 85% lower than the U.S. retail cash price and popular weight-loss medicine Zepbound is priced 53% lower.
“While policy reform is necessary to address the high cost of prescription medications, PharmacyChecker is among the resources available, striving to fill in this critical public health gap,” said Ross Phan, PharmD, Director of PharmacyChecker’s International Pharmacy Verification Program. “Affordable access to safe, quality medications is essential to helping patients achieve their health goals.”
U.S. Retail vs. Certified Cold-Chain International Pharmacy Prices |
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| Drug Name | Primary Treatment | U.S. Retail Price | Cold-Chain Certified Canadian Price | Savings |
| Trulicity | Type 2 diabetes | $495.74 | $73.75 | 85.12% |
| Cosentyx | Psoriasis and inflammatory arthritis | $7,983.88 | $1,374.33 | 82.79% |
| Enbrel | Autoimmune diseases | $8,374.66 | $2,495.00 | 70.21% |
| Saxenda | Obesity | $1,325.62 | $514.95 | 61.15% |
| Zepbound | Obesity | $1,069.06 | $499.95 | 53.23% |
| Victoza | Type 2 diabetes | $538.80 | $270.00 | 49.89% |
| Humira | Autoimmune diseases | $3,384.96 | $2,199.95 | 35.01% |
| Humalog | Diabetes mellitus | $72.76 | $60.00 | 17.54% |
| Wegovy | Obesity | $662.81 | $599.00 | 9.63% |
| Mounjaro | Type 2 diabetes and obesity | $547.13 | $499.95 | 8.62% |
| Median Potential Savings: 51.56% | ||||
Prices collected July 2026
The PharmacyChecker Cold-Chain Certification is part of PharmacyChecker's enhanced oversight of pharmacies participating in its International Pharmacy Verification Program (IPVP). Under the program, websites marketing refrigerated medications must partner exclusively with accredited Tier 1 dispensing pharmacies that have earned PharmacyChecker Cold-Chain Certification.
Tier 1 designation is reserved for pharmacies operating in jurisdictions with strong regulatory oversight, including the United States, Canada, Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, and other approved countries.
The websites announced today partner with an accredited Canadian dispensing pharmacy that has maintained continuous compliance with PharmacyChecker Policy 16-03: International Shipment of Refrigerated Medications: Cold-Chain Certification Requirements since February 2024. Websites that earn the designation display a Cold-Chain icon 
on their PharmacyChecker pharmacy profile, signaling to consumers that refrigerated medications are dispensed through a PharmacyChecker Cold-Chain Certified pharmacy that complies with Policy 16-03.
"Patients who rely on insulin and other refrigerated medications deserve confidence that the medicines they receive have been properly handled and maintained according to established cold-chain requirements throughout the shipping process," said Dr. Phan. "Our Cold-Chain Certification establishes rigorous, independently verified standards that help safeguard medication integrity from the pharmacy to the patient's doorstep."
PharmacyChecker's Cold-Chain Certification process includes review of dispensing pharmacy standard operating procedures, independent verification of demonstration shipments, and ongoing compliance audits. Before any shipping method is approved for patient use, PharmacyChecker verifies that required temperatures are maintained throughout transit. Certified pharmacies also undergo recurring seasonal audit shipments during both hot- and cold-weather conditions to validate continued cold-chain integrity under extreme weather conditions.
Key Cold-Chain Certification Requirements
- Maintenance of cold-chain integrity at 2°C to 8°C (36°F to 46°F) throughout all stages of processing, storage, packaging, and shipping, including until receipt by the patient;
- Development and implementation of detailed standard operating procedures governing cold-chain operations;
- Use of verified shipping containers and packaging systems designed to maintain required temperatures during transit;
- Temperature monitoring through data loggers or temperature indicators included with shipments;
- Clear recipient instructions for handling, storage, and temperature verification upon delivery;
- Signature confirmation upon receipt of refrigerated medications;
- Successful completion of multiple demonstration shipments for each approved shipping method before patient use;
- Ongoing semiannual certification renewal and seasonal audit shipments to verify continued compliance.
About PharmacyChecker
PharmacyChecker is an independent U.S. company with a global impact. Through its International Pharmacy Verification Program and drug price comparisons, PharmacyChecker helps patients identify safe and affordable prescription medication options.
For millions of Americans, in particular, international online pharmacies have served as a lifeline of savings, helping patients adhere to their prescribed drug therapies. PharmacyChecker's drug price comparisons indicate that U.S. consumers may save up to 90% on certain medications compared with retail pharmacy prices.
JAMA, a peer-reviewed medical journal published by the American Medical Association, recommends that patients and clinicians use PharmacyChecker to compare drug prices among trusted online pharmacies.
To learn more about how PharmacyChecker can help patients and caregivers save on prescription medications, visit www.pharmacychecker.com.
