Hims & Hers drops plan for knockoff of Novo Nordisk's new Wegovy weight loss pill

Telehealth company reverses course after FDA threatens to limit access to weight loss drug ingredients

Published on Feb. 7, 2026

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Telehealth company Hims & Hers has dropped its plan to offer a compounded version of the new weight-loss pill Wegovy, just two days after announcing the new drug. This comes after Novo Nordisk, the maker of Wegovy, threatened to sue Hims, and the FDA said it plans to take steps to limit access to the active ingredients in popular weight-loss medications like Wegovy, Ozempic, and Zepbound.

Why it matters

The decision by Hims & Hers highlights the complex regulatory landscape around weight-loss medications, as the FDA seeks to balance access to innovative treatments with concerns over potential misuse or safety issues. It also underscores the challenges facing telehealth companies that aim to provide lower-cost alternatives to branded pharmaceuticals.

The details

Hims had planned to significantly undercut Novo's $149 per month price for Wegovy by selling a compounded version for $49 the first month and $99 per month thereafter. However, the compounded medicine Hims planned to sell was not FDA-approved and had not gone through clinical trials. The FDA permits compounding of brand-name drugs when they are in short supply, but said GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy are no longer considered in shortage, which was expected to end the compounding exception. Hims cited 'constructive conversations with stakeholders' as the reason for dropping the Wegovy knockoff plan.

  • On February 7, 2026, Hims & Hers announced it would drop its plan to offer a compounded version of the Wegovy weight-loss pill.
  • On February 5, 2026, Hims had announced it would offer a compounded version of Wegovy.

The players

Hims & Hers

A telehealth company that had planned to offer a compounded version of the weight-loss pill Wegovy at a lower price than the branded product.

Novo Nordisk

The pharmaceutical company that manufactures the FDA-approved Wegovy weight-loss medication.

U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

The federal agency that regulates the safety and efficacy of drugs in the United States, and which threatened to limit access to the active ingredients in popular weight-loss medications like Wegovy.

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What they’re saying

“Since launching the compounded semaglutide pill on our platform, we've had constructive conversations with stakeholders across the industry. As a result, we have decided to stop offering access to this treatment.”

— Hims & Hers (X)

The takeaway

This case highlights the complex regulatory environment around weight-loss medications, as the FDA seeks to balance access to innovative treatments with concerns over potential misuse or safety issues. It also underscores the challenges facing telehealth companies that aim to provide lower-cost alternatives to branded pharmaceuticals, as they must navigate a web of regulations and legal threats from established drug makers.