Good morning, everyone, and welcome to another working week. We hope the weekend respite was relaxing and invigorating because that oh-too-familiar routine of meetings, deadlines, and the like has returned with a vengeance. You knew this would happen, yes? To cope, we are relying, as always, on cups of stimulation. Our choice today is laced with traces of cocoa. Feel free to join us. Remember, no prescription is required. Meanwhile, here are some tidbits to help you along. Best of luck accomplishing your goals today and, of course, do keep in touch …
Novo Nordisk filed a lawsuit accusing Hims & Hers of infringing on a key patent for its widely sold Wegovy weight loss treatment, a new legal tactic by the drugmaker as it tries to thwart compounded versions of its big-selling medicine, STAT writes. Specifically, Novo Nordisk claims the telehealth platform infringed on the patent for semaglutide, the active ingredient found in both the pill and injectable versions of Wegovy, as well as its Ozempic diabetes treatment. The patent expires in 2032 and covers any oral, injectable, or other drug containing semaglutide. The move comes after Hims & Hers last week announced plans to sell a cheaper, compounded version of a new Wegovy obesity pill for $49 for the five first months, undercutting the $149 price charged by the drugmaker. The Food and Drug Administration approved the pill two months ago.
Telehealth companies and compounding pharmacies that are continuing to make copycat versions of Novo Nordisk’s highly popular obesity drug Wegovy “should be very, very much on notice,” the drugmaker’s general counsel told STAT. The comments by Novo’s John Kuckelman came shortly after the company filed a lawsuit against Hims & Hers. The drugmaker alleged that the telehealth company is infringing on its patent for semaglutide, the active ingredient in Wegovy and its diabetes drug Ozempic. While Novo has filed dozens of lawsuits against these firms over claims like false advertising and deceptive trade practices, this is the first time Novo has filed a suit against Hims and the first time it’s filed a patent suit, a much more aggressive tactic.Continue to STAT+ to read the full story…