Novo Nordisk shares rebound after FDA warning on illegal weight-loss drugs: Copycat maker Hims and Hers responds
Shares of Novo Nordisk rose more than 5% in premarket trading Friday after Hims & Hers Health introduced the compounded semaglutide pill, which has come under scrutiny following the FDA’s warning against illegal counterfeit weight-loss drugs.
Just a day ago, Hims & Hers Health announced that it would begin offering a lower-priced version of its new weight loss pill. The news sent Novo’s shares falling as much as 7.5% during Thursday’s trading session.
According to a report prepared by ReutersThe telehealth company said it will sell a knockoff version of the drug through a subscription program starting at $49 a month, while Novo will sell its branded version, called Wegovy, for $149 a month.
FDA warns of strict measures
Following the announcement, FDA Commissioner Marty Makary issued a strict warning to drug manufacturers offering such counterfeit products on social media.
“The FDA will take swift action against companies that mass market illegal counterfeit drugs and claim that they are similar to FDA-approved products,” he wrote on X (formerly Twitter).
“The FDA cannot verify the quality, safety, or effectiveness of unapproved drugs,” he added.
Novo opposes counterfeit drugs
A few hours after Hims and Hers Health’s announcement, Novo also released a statement saying it would pursue legal action against the company in the interest of patients, intellectual property rights, and the U.S. drug approval framework. Reuters reported.
“Hims & Hers’ action is illegal mass compounding that poses a significant risk to patient safety,” the Danish drugmaker said in a statement, adding that Novo is the only company producing the FDA-approved Wegovy capsule.
Hims and Hers Health respond to criticism
In the face of harsh criticism, Hims and Hers Health also issued a rebuttal to X. “Our track record speaks for itself, and that’s why we’ve been able to help nearly 2.5 million customers access personalized care tailored to their needs. We’re focused on providing customers around the world with greater access, more positive outcomes and more choice,” he said.
The drugmaker also said this was not the first time a major pharmaceutical company claimed its customer-centric approach was dangerous or illegal. “This narrative is as outdated and inaccurate as it is predictable,” the social media post said.
FDA’s advice to consumers
In a separate press release Wednesday, the FDA said unapproved versions of GLP-1 drugs, such as Semaglutide and Tirzepatide, are being sold without adhering to the FDA’s premarket review of safety, effectiveness and quality.
The FDA noted that compounded GLP-1 drugs should be used only when medically necessary and only when the patient’s needs cannot be met by an FDA-approved product.
The agency also warned of risks such as improper storage, dosage errors and fraudulently sold products. As of July 31, 2025, FDA said it had received 605 adverse event reports linked to compounded Semaglutide and 545 reports linked to compounded Tirzepatide, adding that these figures were likely underreported.
