Novo Nordisk, Hims & Hers Reportedly End Obesity Drug Feud, Aim To Partner
The potential partnership comes a month after Novo sued Hims over obesity drug knockoffs. Also: A new study finds that generic versions of Ozempic and Wegovy could be sold for less than $3 a month.
Novo Nordisk A/S plans to sell its weight-loss drugs on Hims & Hers Health Inc.鈥檚 platform, according to a person familiar with the matter, ending a highly public feud between the two companies that spiraled into a legal battle last month. Novo and Hims plan to announce a new partnership as soon as Monday, according to the person, who spoke on the condition of anonymity. The two companies had a similar agreement last year, but Novo abruptly scrapped it after Hims refused to stop marketing and selling copycat medications. (Muller, 3/7)
Generic versions of Novo Nordisk A/S鈥檚 hit shots Ozempic and Wegovy could be sold for under $3 a month, a new study showed, underscoring their potential to unlock global access to powerful weight-loss drugs. Generic injectable semaglutide, the main ingredient in both blockbuster drugs, could cost $28 to $140 a year, according to researchers at the University of Liverpool. By contrast, Novo鈥檚 US list price is $1,027.51 for Ozempic and $1,349 for Wegovy, though it has pledged to cut both to $675 on Jan. 1. Direct-to-consumer prices are lower, at $349 a month for most doses of Wegovy. (Kresge, 3/6)
In related news 鈥
The miracle of rapid weight loss has always come with fine print. Until recently, it read mostly like a list of digestive complaints 鈥 stomachaches, constipation 鈥 generally unpleasant but tolerable and rarely severe. New research presented this month suggests the drugs may affect something more structural: bone. In an analysis of nearly 150,000 patients, researchers found that people taking GLP-1 medications faced a significantly higher risk of skeletal disorders. (Eunjung Cha, 3/8)
Other pharma and tech updates 鈥
Agilent Technologies Inc. agreed to acquire privately held Biocare Medical, which makes instruments and materials used in cancer research, in an all-cash transaction valued at $950 million. Biocare will become part of the Agilent Life Sciences and Diagnostics Markets Group, according to a statement reviewed by Bloomberg News. The deal is expected to be accretive earnings per share about 12 months after it closes, and will 鈥渁ccelerate innovation and support long-term value creation for our shareholders,鈥 Agilent Chief Executive Officer Padraig McDonnell said in the statement. (Baker and Davis, 3/9)
A new study finds AI can potentially detect artery calcification in routine mammograms, helping identify women at risk of heart disease, the leading cause of death. (Johnson, 3/9)