Hims & Hers announces Wegovy pill copy; Novo Nordisk vows legal action

Novo Nordisk mentioned Thursday it’s going to take authorized motion towards Hims & Hers after the telehealth supplier introduced it will launch a less expensive copycat model of Novo’s Wegovy weight reduction capsule.

“The motion by Hims & Hers is illegitimate mass compounding that poses a big threat to affected person security,” Novo mentioned in an announcement. “Novo Nordisk will take authorized and regulatory motion to guard sufferers, our mental property and the integrity of the US gold-standard drug approval framework.

“That is one other instance of Hims & Hers’ historic behaviour of duping the American public with knock-off GLP-1 merchandise, and the FDA has beforehand warned them about their misleading promoting of GLP-1 knock-offs,” the assertion mentioned.

Shares of Novo Nordisk in addition to rival Eli Lilly every fell roughly 7% after Hims introduced the cheaper Wegovy copy for $49, far lower than the $149 Novo sells the branded capsule for. Hims inventory initially spiked on the announcement, however pared positive factors after Novo mentioned it will struggle the rollout.

Novo launched its Wegovy capsule within the U.S. in early January, and CEO Mike Doustdar advised CNBC on Wednesday that 170,000 folks had been already taking the treatment.

Hims & Hers had beforehand been providing compounded semaglutide, the lively ingredient in Novo’s blockbuster medication Ozempic and Wegovy, in an injectable format, and is now extending the providing to incorporate the oral model.

Hims mentioned the Wegovy capsule copy would value $49 for the primary month and $99 thereafter with a 5-month plan.

Semaglutide’s patent is protected within the U.S. till 2032, however Hims says its copies are “personalised,” and due to this fact authorized.

“This compounded product makes use of a distinct formulation and supply system than FDA-approved oral semaglutide,” Hims mentioned.

“This once-a-day capsule has the identical lively ingredient as Wegovy and empowers suppliers to tailor remedy plans particularly for many who favor to keep away from needles or want smaller doses to assist to steadiness side-effects,” it mentioned.

Novo highlighted that it manufactures its Wegovy capsule utilizing so-called SNAC expertise, which facilitates absorption when administered orally. It is not clear precisely how Hims’ copy system may match the extent of absorption.

As lately as final yr, Novo and Hims partnered to supply discounted weight reduction jabs to the telehealth firm’s prospects. Novo, nevertheless, ended the collaboration simply two months later and mentioned Hims used “misleading” advertising and marketing that put affected person security in danger.

Lilly does not but have an oral GLP-1 possibility available on the market however is predicted to launch a rival capsule, orforglipron, within the first half of this yr, pending Meals and Drug Administration approval.

“With the … present authorized backdrop, there is no such thing as a motive why HIMS should not consider these launches for each subsequent weight reduction product because the market continues to evolve,” Leerink analyst Michael Cherny mentioned in a word to purchasers.

Eli Lilly did not instantly reply to a request for remark.

Thursday’s information from Hims provides to the strain Novo has been going through over the previous yr.

In 2025, the inventory fell almost 50% in its worst yr ever as traders misplaced confidence within the Danish drugmaker’s means to maintain gross sales rising amid ever-increasing competitors. Shares are down one other 15% yr up to now.

Hims’ announcement comes days after Novo forecast gross sales and income declining between 5% and 13% in 2026, primarily on account of pricing pressures within the U.S. and lack of exclusivity for semaglutide in sure markets outdoors of the U.S., like Canada and China, this yr.

In distinction, Lilly sees gross sales rising by about 25% this yr.

Doustdar defined Novo’s worse-than-expected outlook as a sign that issues will worsen earlier than they get higher.

“We’re creating affordability for the sufferers, thousands and thousands of sufferers which might be proper now in want of GLP-1 merchandise however merely couldn’t afford it. To try this quick time period, it’s a must to take a headwind. However after all, there is a very lengthy tail wind for years to come back,” he advised CNBC.