The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that it no longer considers Novo Nordisk’s weight-loss and diabetes drugs, Wegovy and Ozempic, to be in shortage. This declaration allows compounding pharmacies to sell cheaper copies of the brand-name medicines without restrictions.
Novo Nordisk confirmed that its supply meets or exceeds current and projected demand. The company has invested billions to increase production to meet growing demand for its treatments, which had been lagging behind supply for most of last year.
The FDA’s decision means compounding pharmacies like Hims & Hers will no longer be able to sell their own versions of Wegovy and Ozempic without facing restrictions. Hims & Hers shares plummeted 22% on the news.
However, Robert Califf, former FDA commissioner, warns that this does not mark the end of compoundable obesity drugs. He believes compounding pharmacies can still find ways to make cheaper versions of these medicines, potentially leading to future shortages.
The Alliance for Pharmacy Compounding, which represents pharmacists and technicians, questions whether the FDA considered the impact on patients who rely on compounded drugs before making its announcement.
Novo Nordisk’s shares rose 6.2% following the news, while WeightWatchers shares increased 5.2%. The company’s CEO stated that Hims & Hers is closely monitoring for potential future shortages of Wegovy and Ozempic.
Source: https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/us-fda-says-shortage-novos-weight-loss-drug-resolved-2025-02-21