The Wegovy Wars: Pharma Giant Cuts Ties with Hims & Hers Over "Illegal" Knock-Offs
- Pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk has dramatically severed its partnership with telehealth company Hims & Hers, cutting off direct access to authentic Wegovy1.
- Novo Nordisk leveled stunning accusations of "illegal sham compounding" and deceptive marketing, claiming Hims & Hers knowingly put patient safety at risk3.
- The fallout was immediate, with Hims & Hers’ stock price plummeting roughly 35% in the wake of the announcement7.
In a move that sent shockwaves through the booming telehealth market, Novo Nordisk has pulled the plug on its collaboration with Hims & Hers Health, Inc. The partnership, barely a month old, was intended to provide patients with legitimate, FDA-approved Wegovy now that the national shortage has ended5.
But the collaboration soured quickly. Novo Nordisk unleashed a blistering statement, accusing Hims & Hers of failing to adhere to the law by mass-selling compounded drugs under the "false guise of 'personalization'"1. The pharmaceutical titan expressed deep concern over knock-off drugs made with "foreign illicit active pharmaceutical ingredients," which are not reviewed or authorized by the FDA and pose a serious threat to patient health2.
"When companies engage in illegal sham compounding that jeopardizes the health of Americans, we will continue to take action," declared an executive from Novo Nordisk, drawing a firm line in the sand3. While Hims & Hers expressed disappointment and defended its safety protocols, the market reacted swiftly to the public feud, wiping out nearly a third of the company's value and highlighting the high-stakes battle over authenticity and safety in the weight-loss drug industry [1, 7].
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