HQ Team
June 23, 2025: Danish drugmaker Novo Nordisk will terminate its agreement with a US-based telehealth company, Hims & Hers Health Inc., to sell its weight-loss drug, Wegovy.
The pact between the companies was signed on April 29, 2025. US citizens could access NovoCare Pharmacy directly through the platform, with a bundled offering of all dose strengths of Wegovy.
“Over one month into the collaboration, Hims & Hers Health, Inc. has failed to adhere to the law, which prohibits mass sales of compounded drugs under the false guise of ‘personalisation’ and is disseminating deceptive marketing that puts patient safety at risk,” according to a Novo statement.
Direct access to Wegovy will no longer be available to Hims & Hers.
The companies also agreed to develop a roadmap that “combines Novo Nordisk’s innovative treatments with Hims & Hers’ ability to scale access to quality care, aiming to improve long-term outcomes for more people, more affordably,” according to an April statement.
Drug shortage list
The US drug regulator, the Food and Drug Administration, in February this year removed semaglutide from the drug shortage list. The shortage was primarily driven by increased demand for semaglutide, both for its approved use in treating type 2 diabetes (Ozempic) and its off-label use for weight loss (Wegovy).
The FDA phased out temporary policies that allowed pharmacies and outsourcing facilities to compound semaglutide to address the shortage.
Compounders were given a grace period to adjust to the new regulations, with pharmacies having until April 22 and outsourcing facilities until May 22 to comply.
Novo stated that since the drug was no longer in shortage Hims & Hers’ decision to supply compounded semaglutide was against the law. Hims stated that it would continue selling ‘personalised’ doses of semaglutide.
“Compounding is the basis of truly personalised care that treats every person like an individual, instead of just another patient. Compounding is not the creation of a new drug – it is simply using ingredients that have been safely available for years in a different formulation, combination, or updated dosage to offer an alternative based on a healthcare provider’s assessment of what an individual needs,” according to an April 17 statement from Hims.
‘Transition from fake to authentic’
In late April, the FDA resolved the Wegovy shortage based on its conclusion that Novo Nordisk is fully meeting current and projected nationwide demand for this medicine, according to the Novo statement.
“In support of transitioning patients from knock-off compounded versions to authentic, FDA-approved Wegovy through NovoCare Pharmacy, Novo Nordisk began collaborating with telehealth companies,” it stated.
Novo Nordisk stated that it “is deeply concerned and is continuing to take proactive measures to keep US patients safe from knock-off drugs made with foreign illicit active pharmaceutical ingredients.”
The “semaglutide” active pharmaceutical ingredients are fake or counterfeit in the drugs sold by telehealth entities, and the compounding pharmacies are manufactured by foreign suppliers in China, based on an investigation by Novo Nordisk, according to the statement.
Dave Moore, Executive Vice President, US Operations of Novo Nordisk Inc., said: “Novo Nordisk is firm on our position and protecting patients living with obesity. When patients are prescribed semaglutide treatments by their licensed healthcare professional or a telehealth provider, they are entitled to receive authentic, FDA-approved and regulated Wegovy.”
“We will work with telehealth companies to provide direct access to Wegovy that share our commitment to patient safety, and when companies engage in illegal sham compounding that jeopardises the health of Americans, we will continue to take action,” he said.
