Novo Nordisk takes legal action against Hims & Hers to protect patients from unsafe, knock-off Wegovy® and Ozempic®
Globenewswire·2026-02-09 11:59

Core Viewpoint - Novo Nordisk has filed a lawsuit against Hims & Hers for infringing on its patent related to semaglutide products, claiming that Hims is marketing unapproved compounded versions that pose risks to patient safety [1][7]. Group 1: Legal Action and Patent Infringement - Novo Nordisk is taking legal action to protect its intellectual property and public health by seeking a permanent ban on Hims' sale of unapproved compounded drugs that infringe its patents [7]. - The lawsuit highlights Hims' promotional campaigns that mislead consumers and healthcare professionals regarding the safety and efficacy of its compounded semaglutide products [1][2]. Group 2: Patient Safety Concerns - Compounded semaglutide products marketed by Hims may contain dangerous impurities, with Novo Nordisk's testing revealing impurities of up to 86% in injectable forms and 75% in oral forms, which can lead to severe health risks [2][3]. - The FDA has stated that compounded GLP-1 drugs cannot be verified for quality, safety, or efficacy, raising significant concerns from medical organizations about the risks these knock-off drugs pose to patients [3]. Group 3: Company Initiatives and Market Position - Novo Nordisk emphasizes its commitment to patient safety and has launched educational campaigns to raise awareness about the dangers of unapproved drugs, including initiatives like "Check Before You Inject" [4]. - The company is ensuring that authentic, FDA-approved versions of Wegovy and Ozempic are readily available in the US, thereby discouraging patients from using unapproved alternatives [5].