Micah Jonah
February 8, 2026
US-based online telehealth company Hims & Hers has suspended the sale of its low-cost weight-loss pill following warnings from the United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) over a planned crackdown on compounded GLP-1 drugs.
The company announced the decision after launching a $49 compounded version of Novo Nordisk’s popular Wegovy pill, a move that immediately drew regulatory scrutiny and market reaction. Hims said it took the step after consultations with industry stakeholders and regulators.
The FDA disclosed that it would move to restrict the use of GLP-1 ingredients in compounded medicines, citing concerns over safety, quality and possible breaches of federal drug laws. US health authorities also signalled that the matter could be referred to the Department of Justice for further action.
The announcement triggered a brief sell-off in shares of Novo Nordisk and rival drugmaker Eli Lilly, both major players in the fast-growing weight-loss drug market. While the stocks later recovered some losses, Hims’ shares came under pressure.
Health officials warned that mass production and sale of unapproved or copycat GLP-1 products pose serious public health risks. Eli Lilly said patients deserved properly tested medicines rather than compounded copies with no clinical evidence backing their effectiveness.
Compounded drugs, which are mixed by pharmacies to meet specific patient needs or replicate existing drugs at different doses, are permitted under US law only in limited circumstances. Regulators have increasingly raised concerns as demand for cheaper weight-loss alternatives has surged.
Novo Nordisk, which previously partnered with Hims to sell injectable Wegovy, had earlier threatened legal action, accusing the telehealth firm of improperly marketing copy versions of its drug. Hims’ compounded pill was not approved by the FDA, did not undergo clinical trials.
Despite halting the pill, it remains unclear whether Hims will continue offering compounded injectable versions of semaglutide on its platform, as competition intensifies in the global weight-loss drug market.
