Novo Nordisk announced Tuesday it will partner with telehealth providers Hims & Hers Health, Ro, and LifeMD to sell its blockbuster weight-loss drug Wegovy, aiming to widen access now that supply shortages have eased in the United States.
Shares of Hims & Hers soared 30% in premarket trading following the news, while Novo Nordisk stock rose 3%. The Danish pharmaceutical company said patients would be able to obtain Wegovy through the direct-to-consumer platforms, coinciding with the wind-down of compounded, unapproved versions of the medication that proliferated during the shortage.
"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," Dave Moore, executive vice president of U.S. operations at Novo Nordisk, told CNBC. "We're really pleased about the level of interest to access branded Wegovy and to start to sort of catch people as they come off of compounded medicine."
Moore emphasized that the partnerships allow for a "seamless" experience where patients can access prescriptions directly through their telehealth providers and have Wegovy shipped to their homes. Patients without insurance coverage can purchase Wegovy through Novo Nordisk's online NovoCare Pharmacy for $499 per month-about half the drug's typical monthly list price. Prices on telehealth platforms may be higher due to bundled services.
Hims & Hers announced it will offer Wegovy across all dose sizes, including 24/7 clinical care, nutritional guidance, and ongoing support, with prices starting at $599 per month.
Ro, meanwhile, said it would offer Wegovy access for $499 per month, providing additional services such as one-on-one coaching through its Body Program. "Adding Novo Nordisk's FDA-approved treatments at the best available cash price will help more patients nationwide get the obesity care they need to achieve their goals, particularly those without insurance coverage," Ro CEO Zach Reitano said.
The expansion comes as larger compounding pharmacies face a legal deadline of May 22 to cease bulk production of semaglutide, the active ingredient in Wegovy and Ozempic. Smaller, state-licensed compounding operations had an April 22 cutoff for manufacturing patient-specific prescriptions.
Compounded versions of semaglutide became popular during the shortage but faced criticism from drugmakers and health experts because the FDA does not approve compounded drugs. Moore said, "The spirit of this is that we stay true to what the rules are. That's the best way for us to serve patients."
Hims & Hers had previously offered compounded semaglutide but will now primarily offer branded versions, though personalized compounded prescriptions may still be available if clinically necessary, Dudum said.
Earlier this month, Hims & Hers expanded its offerings to include Eli Lilly's Zepbound and Mounjaro, although Lilly clarified it had no formal affiliation with the telehealth company.
