Pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk has reached a new agreement with telehealth platform Hims & Hers that will expand access to its blockbuster GLP-1 medicines for US patients while ending a dispute over compounded alternatives.
Under the deal, which takes effect later this month, Hims & Hers will offer patients access to FDA-approved versions of Ozempic and Wegovy at the same self-pay prices available through other telehealth platforms. The partnership also marks a shift away from compounded GLP-1 products previously marketed through the platform.
Hims & Hers will stop advertising compounded GLP-1 drugs and instead focus on branded, FDA-approved treatments. Existing patients using compounded options will be able to transition to approved alternatives, when appropriate, in consultation with healthcare professionals.
“This agreement with Hims & Hers is a meaningful win for patients in the United States. By expanding access through leading telehealth providers and digital care platforms, we are helping to connect more people with our FDA-approved medicines, which have been evaluated for safety and efficacy,” said Mike Doustdar, President and CEO of Novo Nordisk.
"Wegovy is not simply an obesity therapy. It is a clinically proven treatment that helps adults with obesity lose weight while also reducing the risk of cardiovascular events in patients who also have heart disease. That combination of powerful weight loss efficacy and proven risk reduction is what makes Wegovy truly distinct. We all want better health. Our goal is simple: ensure that every patient who can benefit from our medicines has the opportunity to access them, wherever they choose to receive care.”
Through the agreement, Hims & Hers patients will gain access to the full range of FDA-approved semaglutide medicines, including injectable Ozempic and both injectable and oral versions of Wegovy. The companies say all doses are now broadly available nationwide through more than 70,000 pharmacies, Novo Nordisk’s direct-to-consumer platform NovoCare Pharmacy, and selected telehealth providers.
Clinical data from the OASIS 4 trial showed the Wegovy pill produced an average weight loss of about 17% when used with a reduced-calorie diet and exercise among patients who remained on treatment. In comparison, those taking placebo lost about 3%. When accounting for patients who discontinued treatment, average weight loss reached roughly 14% with the drug versus about 2% with placebo.
Common side effects were consistent with earlier trials of Wegovy injections, including nausea, diarrhea and vomiting.
Beyond weight loss, the oral therapy is also indicated to reduce the risk of major cardiovascular events—such as heart attack, stroke or death—in adults with overweight or obesity and established cardiovascular disease. Ozempic is approved for adults with type 2 diabetes to improve blood sugar control and reduce cardiovascular risk in those with heart disease.
As part of the agreement, Novo Nordisk will dismiss its patent infringement lawsuit against Hims & Hers, though the company said it reserves the right to refile in the future.
