Telehealth giant Hims will soon sell its own version of Ozempic that costs just a quarter of the brand’s price.
Hims, a wellness startup known for its hair and sex supplements, announced Monday that it will sell an “imitation” of semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy.
This is known as compounding, which is when companies can offer prescription drugs without FDA approval to combat shortages.
The cost of the shot will start at just $199 for a one-month supply, while Ozempic and Wegovy can add up to more than $1,300. This price also includes unlimited consultations with a doctor.
Hims did not announce when the drug will be available.
Supplement giant Hims will sell its own version of semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy, for just $199 a month.
Hims also specializes in supplements and medications for sexual health, hair loss, and mental health.
Hims said the goal is to help customers access medications without “having to deal with the shortages and costs that currently limit access to brand-name medications.”
The news comes as several types of drugs, including Ozempic and Wegovy, face record shortages.
TO recent report from the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) and the University of Utah Drug Information Service, for example, found that 323 medications are currently out of stock, surpassing the 2014 high of 320.
Andrew Dundum, CEO of Hims, said: “It’s going to be a big part of the weight loss category going forward.”
“We think the combination can be done very safely, if done correctly.”
The announcement comes after Hims launched a weight loss program in December, which includes access to GLP-1-free oral medications.
Compounded weight-loss drugs have become more popular in recent months as Ozempic maker Novo Nordisk and Wegovy maker Eli Lilly have struggled to meet growing demand for the shots.
Although the FDA allows companies to make compounded drugs like these, the agency does not review their safety or effectiveness.
Dundum did not say where the new drugs will be made, but noted that it is “one of the largest generic manufacturers.”
Hims also announced that it will offer compounded versions of tirzepatide, the active ingredient in Mounjaro and Zepbound, in the coming months.
The company also said it will offer the Ozempic and Wevovy brands once there is sufficient supply.