Novo Nordisk has filed a lawsuit accusing Hims & Hers of infringing on a key patent for its widely sold Wegovy weight loss treatment, a new legal tactic by the drugmaker as it tries to thwart compounded versions of its best-selling medicine.
Specifically, Novo Nordisk claims the telehealth platform infringed on the patent for semaglutide, the active ingredient found in both the pill and injectable versions of Wegovy, as well as its Ozempic diabetes treatment. The patent expires in 2032 and covers any oral, injectable, or other drug containing semaglutide.
The move comes after Hims & Hers last week announced plans to sell a cheaper, compounded version of a new Wegovy obesity pill on its telehealth platform for $49 for the five first months, undercutting the $149 price charged by the drugmaker. The Food and Drug Administration approved the pill nearly two months ago.
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