Hims–Novo Nordisk clash over new weight-loss pill

Hims & Hers Health has expanded its weight loss business by allowing its providers to prescribe a new Compounded Semaglutide Pill containing the same active ingredient as Novo Nordisk’s obesity drug Wegovy. The company said eligible customers can access treatment plans that include the pill at an introductory price starting at $49 for the first month.

According to Hims & Hers, the compounded pill is formulated to protect semaglutide during digestion and support absorption. The telehealth operator added that it adheres to all applicable federal and state compounding regulations and highlighted prior investments, noting that in 2025 it doubled its facility footprint to more than one million square feet, integrating advanced pharmacy, lab testing, and R&D capabilities.

Shortly after Hims & Hers’ announcement, Novo Nordisk issued a strongly worded statement alleging that the company will “unlawfully mass-market an unapproved, inauthentic, and untested knockoff semaglutide pill.” Novo described the move as “illegal mass compounding” that it said poses a significant risk to patient safety, and it pledged to take legal and regulatory action.

Novo also linked the new pill to what it called Hims & Hers’ “historic behaviour of duping the American public with knockoff GLP-1 products,” saying the U.S. Food and Drug Administration had previously warned the telehealth firm about deceptive advertising of GLP‑1 knockoffs. Novo emphasized that compounded semaglutide is not FDA-approved and may contain impurities, unnecessary additives, and untested doses.

Novo Nordisk underlined that it is the only manufacturer of an FDA‑approved Wegovy pill, which uses SNAC technology to facilitate oral absorption of semaglutide. The company said its Wegovy pill is available in all doses and in full supply, contrasting that with compounded versions that lack regulatory approval.

Novo’s statement framed the availability of its approved oral Wegovy as an alternative to compounded products for obesity treatment. It tied the Hims & Hers launch to broader concerns about safety oversight in the rapidly expanding GLP‑1 market, particularly as more providers and compounders seek to offer lower-priced options.

The latest conflict comes after the companies’ prior commercial relationship ended. In June 2025, Hims & Hers’ stock fell almost 30% when Novo Nordisk stopped working with the telehealth firm on direct access to Wegovy. That move removed a channel through which Hims & Hers had previously offered Novo’s branded semaglutide treatment.

Novo’s current criticism of the compounded pill and reference to earlier FDA warnings suggest the dispute has both regulatory and commercial dimensions. For Hims & Hers, the launch represents a bid to remain active in prescription weight loss following the loss of direct Wegovy supply, while Novo is seeking to defend its branded franchise and regulatory position.