Following a prolonged legal feud, the Danish pharmaceutical giant and the leading U.S. digital health platform have reached a landmark agreement to distribute branded obesity treatments.
Ending conflict to expand accessibility
The deal announced on March 9 marks a formal truce between Novo Nordisk and Hims & Hers. Consequently, Novo will dismiss its patent infringement lawsuit, while Hims commits to halting the promotion of its compounded GLP-1 medications, which have faced significant legal and safety scrutiny.
Starting later this month, Hims patients will have access to branded Ozempic, injectable Wegovy, and the recently launched Wegovy pill. These products will be offered at “affordable self-pay prices,” providing a clear path for patients to transition from compounded versions to FDA-approved therapies evaluated for safety and efficacy.
[Image showing the transition from unapproved compounded vials to branded FDA-approved packaging]
A mutually beneficial strategic alliance
This partnership is viewed as a necessary union for both entities amidst declining stock prices and intensifying competition from rival Eli Lilly.
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For Novo Nordisk: Accessing Hims’ 2.5 million subscribers is expected to significantly boost prescription volume and help suppress the market for unauthorized copycat drugs.
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For Hims & Hers: Pivoting to branded products allows the company to exit the crosshairs of potential Department of Justice investigations and FDA warnings, while advancing its goal of becoming a global leader in consumer health.
The FDA has expressed support for the move, with leadership praising the shift toward approved products as a vital step in limiting misleading claims surrounding mass-marketed compounded medications.