Novo Nordisk Terminates Wegovy Partnership with Hims & Hers Amid Compounding Controversy

Pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk has abruptly ended its collaboration with telehealth company Hims & Hers to distribute the popular weight loss drug Wegovy, citing concerns over the sale of compounded GLP-1 medications. The termination, announced on June 23, 2025, has sent shockwaves through the industry and caused Hims & Hers' stock to plummet by approximately 30%.

Partnership Dissolution and Allegations

The partnership, which began in late April 2025, allowed patients to access Wegovy at a discount through Novo Nordisk's online pharmacy, NovoCare Pharmacy, via the Hims & Hers telehealth platform. However, Novo Nordisk claims that Hims & Hers violated the agreement by continuing to sell compounded versions of semaglutide, the active ingredient in Wegovy and Ozempic.

Dave Moore, Executive Vice President of US Operations at Novo Nordisk, stated, "When patients are prescribed semaglutide treatments by their licensed healthcare professional or a telehealth provider, they are entitled to receive authentic, FDA-approved and regulated Wegovy." The company accused Hims & Hers of engaging in "illegal sham compounding that jeopardizes the health of Americans."

Hims & Hers Responds to Allegations

In a strongly worded statement, Hims & Hers CEO Andrew Dudum refuted Novo Nordisk's claims, asserting that the drugmaker was "misleading the public." Dudum alleged that Novo Nordisk's commercial team had pressured the company to "control clinical standards and steer patients to Wegovy regardless of whether it was clinically best for patients."

Dudum emphasized the company's commitment to patient choice, stating, "We refuse to be strong-armed by any pharmaceutical company's anticompetitive demands that infringe on the independent decision making of providers and limit patient choice." He affirmed that Hims & Hers would continue to offer access to a range of treatments, including Wegovy, to ensure providers can serve the individual needs of patients.

Regulatory and Safety Concerns

The controversy highlights ongoing debates about the regulation and safety of compounded medications. Novo Nordisk cited a report from the Brookings Institute, claiming that the FDA has never authorized or approved the manufacturing processes used by foreign suppliers to make semaglutide, nor has it reviewed or authorized the quality of the "semaglutide" they produce.

The company raised concerns about "foreign illicit active pharmaceutical ingredients" in knock-off versions of GLP-1 drugs, particularly those manufactured by suppliers in China. According to Novo Nordisk, a large share of these suppliers have never been inspected by the FDA, and many that were inspected had drug quality assurance violations.

This development comes in the wake of the FDA's recent announcement that semaglutide is no longer in short supply, making it ineligible for compounding under current U.S. regulations. This decision has significantly impacted telehealth companies and compounding pharmacies that had built a market around selling cheaper alternatives to branded weight loss drugs.

As the industry grapples with these regulatory challenges and safety concerns, the termination of the Novo Nordisk-Hims & Hers partnership marks a significant turning point in the ongoing debate over access to weight loss medications and the role of telehealth companies in their distribution.