STAT+: Pharmalittle: We’re reading about TrumpRx, Hims & Hers selling compounded Wegovy pill, and more

President Trump launched TrumpRx, a website aimed at lowering drug prices, on Thursday night. Concurrently, Hims & Hers, a telehealth company, has faced significant legal and regulatory challenges regarding its sale of a compounded version of the weight-loss drug Wegovy. This compounded version was marketed at €41 and has been criticized by Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer of Wegovy, which labeled it an “untested knockoff.” Novo Nordisk has raised concerns about the safety and efficacy of Hims & Hers' product, leading to an ongoing investigation by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services (HHS) and a request for the Justice Department to investigate the matter. In addition to the investigation, Novo Nordisk has filed a lawsuit against Hims & Hers for allegedly infringing on a key patent related to Wegovy. The lawsuit stems from Hims & Hers' offering of a lower-priced compounded version of the drug, which Novo Nordisk has described as “illegal mass compounding.” The chief counsel of Novo Nordisk has warned that telehealth companies and compounding pharmacies producing similar versions should be “very, very much on notice” regarding the legal implications of their actions. In response to the legal challenges and the FDA investigation, Hims & Hers has decided to cease the sale of its compounded weight-loss pill. The company had been criticized for its marketing of this alternative, which has raised broader concerns within the pharmaceutical and telehealth industries about the legality and ethical implications of producing compounded medications that mimic established drugs. Novo Nordisk's actions reflect a strong stance against what it perceives as infringement on its intellectual property and a potential risk to patient safety. The situation highlights the tensions between established pharmaceutical companies and emerging telehealth providers, particularly in the context of weight-loss treatments and compounded medications. The outcome of the lawsuit and the investigation could have significant repercussions for both Hims & Hers and Novo Nordisk, as well as the compounding pharmacy sector as a whole. Hims & Hers' decision to abandon the sale of its compounded weight-loss pill underscores the challenges faced by companies in the rapidly evolving telehealth market.