Novo Nordisk cites ‘concerns about illegal mass compounding’ in ending Hims pact

Novo Nordisk (NVO) announced that the company will no longer be working with Hims & Hers Health (HIMS) and that direct access to Wegovy will no longer be available to Hims & Hers Health via NovoCare Pharmacy. “Novo Nordisk is firm on our position and protecting patients living with obesity. When patients are prescribed semaglutide treatments by their licensed healthcare professional or a telehealth provider, they are entitled to receive authentic, FDA-approved and regulated Wegovy. We will work with telehealth companies to provide direct access to Wegovy that share our commitment to patient safety – and when companies engage in illegal sham compounding that jeopardizes the health of Americans, we will continue to take action,” said Dave Moore, Executive Vice President, US Operations of Novo Nordisk. The company added: “Novo Nordisk is deeply concerned and is continuing to take proactive measures to keep US patients safe from knock-off drugs made with foreign illicit active pharmaceutical ingredients. Based on Novo Nordisk’s investigation, the ‘semaglutide’ active pharmaceutical ingredients that are in the knock-off drugs sold by telehealth entities and compounding pharmacies are manufactured by foreign suppliers in China. According to a report from the Brookings Institute, FDA has never authorized or approved the manufacturing processes used by any of these foreign suppliers to make semaglutide, nor has FDA ever reviewed or authorized the quality of the ‘semaglutide’ they produce. The report also found that a ‘large share of (these Chinese suppliers) were never inspected by FDA, and many of those that were (inspected) had drug quality assurance violations.’ US patients should not be exposed to knock-off drugs made with unsafe and illicit foreign ingredients.” Shares of Hims & Hers are down about 23% to $49.66 in pre-market trading.