Novo Nordisk announced on Tuesday that it will offer its weight loss drug, Wegovy, through telehealth platforms like Hims & Hers Health, Ro, and LifeMD, now that the drug is no longer in short supply in the U.S. This move aims to increase access to the popular treatment.
Following the news, shares of Hims & Hers surged 23%, while Novo Nordisk’s stock rose 4%.
The Danish pharmaceutical company is working quickly to attract more patients, especially as many compounding pharmacies are now restricted from producing cheaper, unapproved versions of Wegovy. During the shortage, patients turned to these compounded versions due to high demand for the drug.
Dave Moore, executive vice president of U.S. operations at Novo Nordisk, told CNBC, “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 added that the new partnerships would make the process seamless for patients, allowing them to easily access Wegovy through telehealth providers, with the medication shipped directly to their homes.
Patients can now access Novo Nordisk’s direct-to-consumer online pharmacy, NovoCare, through these telehealth providers. The pharmacy offers Wegovy at a discounted price of $499 per month for those without insurance coverage, which is about half the drug’s usual list price.
However, telehealth companies may charge more due to added services, according to a Novo Nordisk spokesperson.
Hims & Hers plans to offer all doses of Wegovy, along with 24/7 care, nutritional guidance, and ongoing clinical support, starting at $599 per month for cash-paying patients with a prescription. CEO Andrew Dudum told CNBC that this partnership would serve as a case study in how patients access treatment and pricing for medications.
Ro has chosen a lower price, offering all doses of Wegovy for $499 per month. Ro’s membership program, the Body Program, includes 24/7 messaging, one-on-one coaching, educational content, and more, but the cost of the medication is separate.
Ro CEO Zach Reitano emphasized that offering Novo Nordisk’s FDA-approved treatments at the best available cash price will help more patients, especially those without insurance, access the care they need.
Earlier this month, Hims & Hers also announced that it would provide access to Eli Lilly’s weight loss drug Zepbound, diabetes medication Mounjaro, and the generic liraglutide through its platform. However, Lilly clarified that it has no affiliation with Hims & Hers, unlike the Novo Nordisk partnership.
Hims & Hers started prescribing compounded semaglutide, the active ingredient in Novo Nordisk’s drugs Ozempic and Wegovy, in May 2024. Although the company has mostly stopped offering compounded medications, some patients may still be able to access personalized doses if necessary, according to Dudum.
During FDA-declared shortages, pharmacists are allowed to make compounded versions of brand-name drugs on a case-by-case basis when medically needed, such as for patients with specific allergies or difficulties swallowing pills. However, some drugmakers and health experts have raised concerns, as compounded medications are not FDA-approved.
Larger, federally regulated compounding pharmacies must stop marketing and selling semaglutide copies by May 22. Smaller, state-licensed pharmacies had a deadline of April 22.
Moore emphasized that Novo Nordisk is committed to following the rules to best serve patients: “The spirit of this is that we stay true to what the rules are.”
