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

Telehealth company reverses course after FDA threatens to restrict access to ingredients needed to copy popular weight-loss medications

Published on Feb. 7, 2026

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Hims & Hers, a telehealth company, had announced plans to offer a compounded version of Novo Nordisk's new weight-loss drug Wegovy at a significantly lower price. However, the company has now dropped this plan after Novo Nordisk threatened legal action and the FDA said it would take steps to limit access to the active ingredients in popular GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy.

Why it matters

This case highlights the ongoing tension between innovative pharmaceutical companies and telehealth startups looking to undercut prices by offering compounded versions of popular drugs. It also raises questions about the FDA's role in regulating access to ingredients for weight-loss medications as demand continues to surge.

The details

Hims had planned to sell a compounded version of semaglutide, the active ingredient in Wegovy, for $49 for the first month and $99 per month thereafter, significantly undercutting Novo Nordisk's $149 per month price. However, Novo Nordisk immediately threatened legal action, and the FDA then said it would take steps to limit access to the active ingredients in GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy. As a result, Hims has now reversed course and will no longer offer the compounded version.

  • On February 7, 2026, Hims announced plans to offer a compounded version of the Wegovy weight-loss pill.
  • On February 9, 2026, Hims dropped its plan to sell the compounded Wegovy version after Novo Nordisk threatened legal action and the FDA said it would restrict access to the active ingredients.

The players

Hims & Hers

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

Novo Nordisk

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

U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA)

The federal agency that regulates the pharmaceutical industry and announced plans to limit access to the active ingredients in popular GLP-1 weight-loss drugs.

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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)

What’s next

The FDA is expected to take decisive steps in the coming weeks to restrict access to the active ingredients used in GLP-1 weight-loss drugs like Wegovy, Ozempic, and Zepbound, which could impact other companies looking to offer compounded versions of these medications.

The takeaway

This case highlights the ongoing challenges in balancing innovation and affordability in the pharmaceutical industry, as well as the FDA's role in regulating access to popular weight-loss drugs amid surging demand.