Novo Nordisk Ends Wegovy Partnership with Hims & Hers Over Safety Concerns

Pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk has terminated its collaboration with telehealth provider Hims & Hers over concerns about the company’s promotion and sale of compounded versions of Wegovy, its blockbuster weight loss drug.

The decision, announced Monday, sent Hims & Hers shares down by 34%, while Novo Nordisk closed over 5% lower. Novo Nordisk cited non-compliance with U.S. drug laws as the reason for ending the deal, accusing Hims & Hers of facilitating mass sales of unauthorized compounded versions of Wegovy under the guise of medical personalization.

“We’ve been firm all along that patient safety is our primary focus,” said Dave Moore, Novo Nordisk's Executive VP for U.S. operations.

Compounded Versions Raise Legal and Safety Red Flags

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) permits compounding only during official drug shortages or for specific medical exceptions. The Wegovy shortage ended in May, legally barring compounding for mass distribution. Novo Nordisk alleges that Hims & Hers continued to offer unapproved formulations from foreign suppliers, including some in China that reportedly lacked proper FDA inspection or had compliance issues.

Novo Nordisk’s internal investigation also revealed that some of these suppliers were not certified or had a history of drug quality violations. The drugmaker expressed intent to pursue legal action and engage with the FDA to curb illegal compounding practices.

Hims & Hers Responds

Hims & Hers CEO Andrew Dudum responded on X (formerly Twitter), saying the company was “disappointed” and accused Novo Nordisk of pressuring it to direct patients to Wegovy regardless of clinical judgment. He emphasized that the company would not compromise provider autonomy and would continue to offer treatment options, including Wegovy, where appropriate.

“We will not compromise the integrity of our platform to appease a third party,” Dudum said.

Legal and Industry Fallout

Analysts warn that the fallout could be severe. Citi’s Daniel Grosslight said the breakup “substantially increases Hims & Hers’ legal risk.” He also noted that the initial partnership lacked enforcement mechanisms to prevent compounding activities — a surprising oversight for a high-profile drug.

Novo Nordisk confirmed that it will continue working with other telehealth providers that align with its safety and regulatory commitments.