Hims & Hers launches copycat weight-loss pill, angering Novo Nordisk

Telehealth company unveils cheaper version of popular Wegovy medication, prompting legal threats from drugmaker

Published on Feb. 5, 2026

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Telehealth company Hims & Hers announced it will launch a cheaper, off-brand version of the weight-loss pill Wegovy, just weeks after drugmaker Novo Nordisk released its highly anticipated reformulation of the blockbuster medication. Novo Nordisk responded by threatening legal action, calling Hims' new product "an unapproved, inauthentic, and untested knockoff" of semaglutide, the active ingredient in Wegovy.

Why it matters

This case highlights the ongoing tensions between telehealth companies and traditional pharmaceutical firms over access to lucrative weight-loss medications. While Hims aims to provide a more affordable option, Novo Nordisk is fiercely protecting its intellectual property and the integrity of the FDA approval process.

The details

Hims said it will launch its compounded pill at $49 for the first month, as part of an introductory offer for new customers, followed by $99 per month. That's well below Novo's price of $149 per month. The FDA permits specialty pharmacies and other companies to make compounded versions of brand name drugs when they are in short supply, and the booming demand for GLP-1 drugs in recent years prompted companies like Hims to jump into the multibillion-dollar market.

  • Novo Nordisk launched its highly anticipated reformulation of Wegovy in early 2026.
  • Hims announced its plans to launch a cheaper, off-brand version of Wegovy on February 5, 2026.

The players

Hims & Hers

A telehealth company that has been selling compounded versions of weight-loss drugs, including an off-brand version of the popular Wegovy medication.

Novo Nordisk

A Danish pharmaceutical company that recently launched its highly anticipated reformulation of the blockbuster weight-loss medication Wegovy.

Dr. Craig Primack

The head of weight-loss products at Hims, who stated that the company's new offering provides "a deeper level of personalization" for patients.

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What they’re saying

“Novo Nordisk will take legal and regulatory action to protect patients, our intellectual property and the integrity of the U.S. gold-standard drug approval framework.”

— Novo Nordisk (Novo Nordisk statement)

“Whether a patient needs a specific dosage adjustment or prefers a compounded semaglutide pill over an injection, our platform now supports a deeper level of personalization.”

— Dr. Craig Primack, Head of weight-loss products at Hims (Hims statement)

What’s next

Novo Nordisk has threatened legal action against Hims & Hers, and the outcome of this dispute could have broader implications for the regulation of compounded medications and access to weight-loss drugs.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing tensions between telehealth companies and traditional pharmaceutical firms over access to lucrative weight-loss medications, as well as the challenges of balancing patient affordability with protecting intellectual property and the FDA approval process.