Customers will be able to access prescription services through the NovoCare Pharmacy.
Novo Nordisk continues its efforts to promote the use of genuine, FDA approved GLP-1s while combatting the use of compounded alternatives.
This has been a uniquely difficult issue in the weight-loss drug space. When Novo’s Wegovy and Ozempic hit the market several years ago, the drugs became very popular very quickly. This resulted in shortages, which forced people to search out alternatives. While the official drugs were still in short supply, FDA briefly relaxed its regulations on compounded medications.
However, the supply has since stabilized, and FDA is enforcing a ban on compounding these medications. Novo Nordisk is active in taking steps to provide people with authentic GLP-1 medications and has entered into several high-profile partnerships to help with this.
The latest partnership is with Weight Watchers.1 Customers of the weight loss company will have access the CenterWell Pharmacy and be able to fulfill prescriptions through the NovoCare Pharmacy starting in July of this year.
In a press release, Novo Nordisk’s executive vice president of US operations Dave Moore said, “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. 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."
While Novo continues to expand its partnerships, it recently ended a collaboration due to concerns over compounding issues. Novo ended its partnership with Hims & Hers after alleging that the company was offering compounded weight-loss medication offerings from unsafe sources while also participating in deceptive marketing. As a result, Hims & Hers customers will no longer have access to authentic Wegovy through the NovoCare Pharmacy.
According to Novo Nordisk, the partnership was only in effect for about a month.
In a press release, Moore explained, “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."
The federal ban on compounding went into effect in late May.3 At that point, FDA determined that authentic GLP-1 medications supplies were available to meet patient-demanded, so it ended its relaxation on compounding these medications.
At the time, Novo announced the launch of a campaign titled Choose the Real Thing, which is aimed at educating patients who may have become accustomed to using compounded medications about the risk of doing so.
In a press release issued at the time, Moore said, “Mass compounding of 'semaglutide' is illegal, dangerous, and must stop now, which is why we are doubling down on our commitment to accessibility, availability, and affordability of authentic, FDA-approved Wegovy®. Novo Nordisk always puts patient safety first, and we urge all stakeholders, including the FDA, Boards of Pharmacy, and law enforcement, to take decisive action to uphold the highest quality standards of care."
