On Tuesday, Novo Nordisk announced a significant move to enhance access to its celebrated weight loss drug, Wegovy, by partnering with prominent telehealth providers: Hims & Hers Health, Ro, and LifeMD. This development comes as the medication is now readily available in the U.S., following a period of shortage that had made it difficult for many patients to obtain.
Following the announcement, shares of Hims & Hers surged by an impressive 40% in premarket trading, while Novo Nordisk's stock experienced a 3% increase. This strategic collaboration is part of Novo Nordisk's efforts to attract more patients, especially considering that many compounding pharmacies are now legally limited in their ability to produce cheaper, unapproved versions of Wegovy, with only a few rare exceptions.
During an interview with CNBC, Dave Moore, executive vice president of U.S. operations at Novo Nordisk, emphasized the importance of forging partnerships with telehealth companies to ensure continued access to Wegovy as the production of compounded versions dwindles. "We felt it was really important to work hard to establish a collaboration with telehealth companies so that there could be access to Wegovy as the compounding is winding down," Moore stated. He expressed optimism about the high demand for the branded version of Wegovy as patients transition from compounded medications.
Starting this week, Hims & Hers will offer all dosage sizes of Wegovy, accompanied by 24/7 care, nutritional guidance, and ongoing clinical support. The pricing for eligible cash-paying patients begins at $599 per month with a prescription. CEO Andrew Dudum highlighted that the increased cost reflects the added value of integrated care, stating that the collaboration with Novo Nordisk could serve as a model for future patient access to medications and treatments.
Earlier this month, Hims & Hers announced that it would also provide access to Eli Lilly's weight loss medication Zepbound and diabetes drug Mounjaro, alongside the generic injection liraglutide. However, it is important to note that Eli Lilly clarified it has no formal affiliation with Hims & Hers.
Since May 2024, Hims & Hers has been prescribing compounded semaglutide—the active ingredient in both Ozempic and Wegovy—but has had to significantly limit these offerings. Nonetheless, Dudum mentioned that some consumers may still be able to access personalized doses if it is medically appropriate. “That was one of the first things we shared with Novo is that we will always fight on behalf of what consumers we believe have the right to get,” he said.
The regulatory landscape surrounding compounded medications is complex. During FDA-declared shortages, pharmacists can legally create compounded versions of brand-name drugs. Additionally, these medications can be produced on a case-by-case basis when deemed medically necessary, such as for patients who are unable to swallow pills or have allergies to specific ingredients in branded medications.
Despite this, the practice of compounding has faced pushback from drug manufacturers and certain healthcare experts, primarily due to the fact that the FDA does not approve compounded drugs. Larger federally regulated compounding pharmacies that produce semaglutide in bulk without prescriptions have until May 22 to cease marketing and selling these versions. In contrast, smaller state-licensed pharmacies that create semaglutide copies for individual prescriptions had a deadline of April 22.
Moore concluded by reiterating the importance of adhering to regulatory guidelines: “The spirit of this is that we stay true to what the rules are. That’s the best way for us to serve patients.”
This collaboration between Novo Nordisk and telehealth providers marks a pivotal step in ensuring that patients have the necessary access to effective weight loss treatments like Wegovy, as they transition away from compounded alternatives.
