Facing Legal Threats, Hims & Hers Removes Imitation Weight Loss Drugs

Earlier this week, the generic weight-loss drug launched by Hims & Hers sparked controversy and faced the threat of legal action. The company announced on Saturday that it will withdraw this product from the market.

The telemedicine company posted on social media: “Since the launch of our semaglutide-compounded medication, we have engaged in constructive communication with stakeholders across the industry. Based on this, the company has decided to discontinue services related to this therapy. We will continue to serve the millions of Americans who trust us by providing safe, affordable, and personalized healthcare services.”

Previously, Hims & Hers had planned to launch a budget-friendly generic version of Novo Nordisk'sNovo Nordisk Wegovy weight-loss medication. This generic drug contains the active ingredient semaglutide from Wegovy and was planned to be sold at a starting price as low as $49 for the first month, while the original Novo Nordisk drug costs about $100 more.

On Thursday, Novo Nordisk threatened legal action against Hims & Hers for “illegally mass compounding medications,” and stated its intention to pursue corresponding legal and regulatory measures.

In its statement at the time, Novo Nordisk said: “This is yet another example of Hims & Hers deceiving Americans with generic GLP-1 products. The FDA has previously issued warnings regarding their false advertising of such generics.”

On Friday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration also commented on the matter, announcing plans to take legal action against Hims & Hers for its generic drug, including restricting access to related raw materials and referring the case to the U.S. Department of Justice.

In response, Hims & Hers stated on Saturday that the company “has always operated with the principle of safeguarding consumer safety and core interests, and all business activities are in compliance with current laws and regulations.”

It is reported that Hims & Hers originally planned to air an advertisement during the 60th Super Bowl on Sunday, with narration by rapper Common, conveying the message that “America’s wealth gap has evolved into a health gap.” The company made the decision to withdraw the drug at this time.

Editor: Ding Wenwu