Introduction:
Danish pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk announced a strategic collaboration with leading U.S. telehealth platforms Hims & Hers Health, Ro, and LifeMD to expand access to its blockbuster weight loss drug, Wegovy. This move comes as supply constraints in the U.S. have been resolved, and regulatory restrictions on compounded versions of the drug tighten.

Strategic Move to Broaden Market Penetration

Under the new agreements, patients can now obtain branded Wegovy directly through telehealth services, alongside access to Novo Nordisk’s direct-to-consumer platform, NovoCare, which offers the medication at a discounted price of $499 per month for uninsured, cash-paying patients.

According to Dave Moore, Executive Vice President of U.S. Operations at Novo Nordisk, the initiative aims to ensure that patients transitioning from compounded medications can seamlessly access the FDA-approved, branded product.

“We are seeing more and more patients receiving care for obesity through telehealth, and we wanted to ensure that we could meet them where they are and provide real Wegovy,” Moore told Reuters.

Market Reaction: Hims & Hers Shares Surge

Following the announcement, shares of Hims & Hers Health soared over 40% in premarket trading on Tuesday, while Novo Nordisk’s stock advanced by approximately 3%. Hims & Hers stated it will begin offering all available Wegovy dosages this week, starting at $599 per month for eligible cash-paying patients. This bundled pricing includes 24/7 clinical support, nutritional guidance, and ongoing care.

Hims & Hers CEO Andrew Dudum emphasized that this partnership could serve as a case study in delivering high-quality treatments through digital health platforms:

“We believe our partnership with Novo Nordisk will become a benchmark for how patients gain access to great medicine,” Dudum told CNBC.

Regulatory Pressure on Compounded Medications

Novo Nordisk’s telehealth expansion comes as regulatory enforcement against compounded versions of semaglutide, the active ingredient in Wegovy and Ozempic, intensifies.
Large federally regulated compounding pharmacies have until May 22 to cease marketing and selling compounded versions without prescriptions, while smaller state-licensed compounding pharmacies faced an earlier deadline of April 22.

“This should be a very clear message that we now have full supply of Wegovy, and all doses are available,” Moore added.

During periods of drug shortage, the FDA permitted pharmacies to produce compounded versions of approved medications. However, now that Wegovy is no longer listed as in shortage by the FDA, the legal framework supporting compounded production is rapidly closing.

Expanding Distribution Channels: Ro and LifeMD

In addition to Hims & Hers, both Ro and LifeMD will now offer Wegovy to their patients with seamless integration to NovoCare. Ro CEO Zach Reitano highlighted the significance of this offering for uninsured patients:

“Adding Novo Nordisk’s FDA-approved treatments at the best available cash price will help more patients nationwide get the obesity care they need to achieve their goals,” said Reitano.

A Strategic Shift in the Digital Health and Obesity Markets

The collaboration signals a broader industry transition: from compounded medications back toward branded, FDA-approved treatments distributed through digital health ecosystems. As public awareness around obesity continues to rise, and the demand for easy access to care accelerates, Novo Nordisk is positioning itself at the forefront of the next growth phase in the weight loss treatment market.