Hims & Hers Health plans to offer generic version of Novo Nordisk’s drug

A comparison of weight loss outcomes shows that Novo’s more recent and popular product, Wegovy, approved for adolescents aged 12 and above in 2022, typically leads to greater weight reduction than this older option. [Image Source: Freepik]

Hims & Hers Health, a telehealth company, announced its intention on Monday to introduce a generic form of Novo Nordisk’s diabetes medication liraglutide to its platform by 2025.

The company stated that they have finalized a primary supplier for this new addition and anticipate completing testing and batch validation in the upcoming months, along with verifying certificates of analysis.

Victoza, a brand name for Liraglutide employed in managing type 2 diabetes, is part of the initial wave of medications classified as GLP-1 agonists. These drugs are designed to suppress appetite and regulate blood glucose levels.

The average weight loss from it is not as significant as that of Novo’s latest popular drug Wegovy, which hit the market in 2020 and received approval for adolescents aged 12 and above in 2022.

At the moment, Hims & Hers provides GLP-1 weight-loss injections compounded at $199 monthly and weight management oral medication kits priced at $79 per month.

The increasing need for weight-loss medications like Wegovy and Eli Lilly’s Zepbound, known for their ability to aid patients in shedding an average of 20% of their body weight, has resulted in shortages. This scarcity has opened up opportunities for drug compounders to manufacture them in the United States.

Procedures and rules.

Compounded versions can be legally distributed to address shortages of a particular drug according to federal regulations. However, compounders are prohibited from producing the drugs on a routine basis or in excessive quantities when there is no shortage.