Pharma giant Novo Nordisk announced that it is collaborating with WeightWatchers to offer Wegovy through NovoCare Pharmacy, effective July 1.
Through the partnership, WeightWatchers’ telehealth program, integrated into NovoCare Pharmacy, will enable new uninsured or self-paying patients to access Wegovy for $299 per month for one month at any dose and subsequently $499 per month after. The offer is valid from July 1 through July 31.
Novo Nordisk says the offers will help patients “previously prescribed unapproved ‘semaglutide’ start on FDA-approved Wegovy.”
WeightWatchers will dispense Wegovy through CenterWell Pharmacy, which handles prescription fulfillment and delivery for NovoCare Pharmacy.
Novo Nordisk said the offer will be effective through each of its telehealth partners: Ro, LifeMD and now WeightWatchers. The same deal will also be available to patients directly through NovoCare Pharmacy.
“We understand that how people choose to receive care is changing, and in response to that, we are collaborating with WeightWatchers to deliver more accessible care to those living with chronic obesity,” Dave Moore, executive vice president of U.S. operations of Novo Nordisk, said in a statement.
“WeightWatchers has spent over six decades building a science-backed approach to weight management, and we see strong synergy in our shared commitment to improving long-term health outcomes. We have also been very encouraged with our existing Ro and LifeMD collaborations. We will continue to pursue and build on agreements with companies that share our values and refine initiatives that help improve access to our FDA-approved medicines for patients.”
THE LARGER TREND
Earlier this week, Novo Nordisk announced it was terminating its contract with Hims & Hers, which was announced less than two months ago, alleging the direct-to-consumer virtual care company is violating federal law by selling compounded versions of the drug at scale under the pretense of “personalization.”
Novo Nordisk also accused Hims & Hers of using misleading marketing practices, which it claims put patient safety at risk.
Hims & Hers responded to the allegations, writing on LinkedIn, “This is a move by a pharmaceutical giant to protect its own interests by challenging lawful, personalized compounded care. Even more troubling is the effort to conflate lawful compounders with bad actors. That’s misleading and harmful, especially for patients with complex needs.”
The company’s CEO, Andrew Dedum, wrote on X, “In recent weeks, Novo Nordisk’s commercial team increasingly pressured us to control clinical standards and steer patients to Wegovy regardless of whether it was clinically best for patients. 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.”
Novo Nordisk also partners with direct-to-consumer virtual care company Ro and publicly traded telemedicine company LifeMD to sell its weight-loss drug through the telehealth providers to cash-paying clients.
In a statement announcing the WeightWatchers partnership, the pharma giant said, “Ro and LifeMD collaborations continue based on their commitment to providing safe and effective medical treatment for patients living with chronic diseases; dialogue with other companies ongoing.”
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