Cardinal Health to Test Drone Delivery to Pharmacies

Cardinal Health Inc.

plans to test the use of drones to speed delivery of pills, inhalers and other items to U.S. pharmacies, a move the healthcare-supplies distributor said could also cut transport costs for time-critical shipments.

The pilot program with drone operator Zipline International Inc. would start next year outside Charlotte, N.C., pending approvals from the Federal Aviation Administration, the companies said Tuesday. Aerial drones with 11-foot wingspans would carry loads of up to four pounds…