Home / Health / Hims & Hers Halts Knockoff Weight-Loss Pill Sales
Hims & Hers Halts Knockoff Weight-Loss Pill Sales
9 Feb
Summary
- Hims & Hers stopped selling a low-cost copy of Novo Nordisk's new weight-loss pill.
- Federal regulators raised concerns about potential violations of drug laws.
- The withdrawn pill was a copycat of the popular oral form of Wegovy.
Hims & Hers announced on Saturday, February 7, 2026, that it would discontinue sales of its low-cost replica of Novo Nordisk's new weight-loss pill. This decision came after federal officials raised concerns that the product might contravene drug laws, leading to a referral to the Justice Department. The online health company had introduced the pill just two days prior, on February 5, 2026.
The withdrawn medication was a copycat version of the oral form of Wegovy, a popular weight-loss drug previously available mainly as an injection. Novo Nordisk's pill, which utilizes SNAC absorption technology, costs $149 for the first month and $199 thereafter. Hims & Hers had marketed its version at $49 for the first month and $99 subsequently. Experts, including former FDA Commissioner Dr. David Kessler, questioned the legitimacy of Hims & Hers' practice, noting a lack of public data on its pill's efficacy compared to the patented technology in Novo Nordisk's product.
This situation highlights ongoing regulatory scrutiny for Hims & Hers, which has previously faced FDA warnings for misleading marketing, including a Super Bowl advertisement in early 2025. The company reported substantial earnings from weight-loss products in 2025, with significant marketing expenditures. The withdrawal of the copycat pill underscores the tension between pharmaceutical innovation, patent protection, and the market for lower-cost alternatives.
