Hims & Hers pulls copycat weight-loss pill after threats of legal action

Hims & Hers on Saturday said that it will pull its copycat weight-loss pill off the market after sparking controversy and threats of legal action earlier this week.

“Since launching the compounded semaglutide pill on our platform, we’ve had constructive conversations with stakeholders across the industry,” the telehealth provider posted on social media. “As a result, we have decided to stop offering access to this treatment. We remain committed to the millions of Americans who depend on us for access to safe, affordable, and personalized care.”

Hims & Hers had previously said it planned to create a cheaper, copycat version of pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy weight-loss pill. That treatment — featuring Wegovy’s active ingredient, semaglutide — was set to launch for as little as $49 for the first month. Novo’s pill sells for roughly $100 more.

Novo on Thursday threatened legal action against Hims for what it called “illegal mass compounding,” adding that the company planned to take legal and regulatory action.

“This is another example of Hims & Hers’ historic behaviour of duping the American public with knock-off GLP-1 products, and the FDA has previously warned them about their deceptive advertising of GLP-1 knock-offs,” Novo said in a statement at the time.

On Friday, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration weighed in, announcing it planned to take legal action against Hims & Hers for the pill, including restricting access to the ingredients and referring the company to the Department of Justice.

In response, Hims on Saturday said it “has always operated with a deep commitment to the safety and best interests of consumers and in compliance with applicable law.”

The move comes as the company plans to run an advertisement during Super Bowl 60 on Sunday. The ad features rapper Common voicing the message that “America’s wealth gap has turned into a health gap.”

Hims previously said it expects the ad to “ruffle some feathers.”