USA —Novo Nordisk, the maker of weight-loss drug Wegovy, has filed lawsuits against medical spas and wellness clinics in the United States for selling products falsely claiming to contain semaglutide, the key ingredient in their popular weight-loss and diabetes medications.
This legal action comes in response to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) recent warning about the safety risks associated with unauthorized versions of Novo Nordisk’s drugs.
The global weight-loss therapy market is estimated to be worth up to US$100 billion in the next decade, with Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly being the primary beneficiaries, according to Barclays.
Novo Nordisk has taken the initiative to protect its products and patients by pursuing legal action against spas and clinics selling unapproved variations of their drugs.
In a statement, Novo Nordisk confirmed that it has filed federal court lawsuits in multiple states, including New York, Florida, Tennessee, and Texas, alleging false advertising, trademark infringement, and unlawful sales of non-FDA-approved compounded products containing semaglutide.
The company seeks court orders to halt the sales of these unauthorized drugs and is also seeking monetary damages.
Novo Nordisk emphasized its commitment to upholding the law and protecting patients’ safety. They reiterated that they are the only company in the U.S. with FDA-approved products containing semaglutide and clarified that no FDA-approved generic versions of semaglutide currently exist.
The initial lawsuits have been filed against specific entities, including Cosmetic Laser Professionals Med Spa (operated by Ekzotika Corp), Pro Health Investments, Flawless Image Medical Aesthetics, Nuvida Rx Weight Loss (operated by Effinger Health) in Tallahassee, and Champion Health and Wellness Clinics.
In other news, Novo Nordisk executives revealed that the launch of Wegovy in most European countries will be slower than initially planned.
This delay is expected to have a more significant impact in developing countries. CEO Lars Fruergaard Jørgensen stated that meeting the demand for Wegovy is a current challenge, but the company is determined to ensure that patients ultimately receive the medicine they need.
Developing countries present greater obstacles, and it may be a prolonged period before a product like Wegovy becomes available there.
Since its launch in mid-2021, Wegovy has experienced shortages due to high demand. In December 2022, Novo Nordisk faced another shortage with their type 2 diabetes semaglutide medicine, Ozempic, as it gained attention for its off-label use in weight loss.
As a result, Novo Nordisk paused advertising and delayed a national campaign rollout for Wegovy in an effort to manage demand.
To address the increased media attention and the prevalence of illegal compounding activities, Novo Nordisk launched semaglutide.com as an educational resource hub. The website has already received substantial traffic, supported by paid search efforts.
Novo Nordisk’s legal actions aim to protect patients from unauthorized and potentially unsafe products while reaffirming the company’s commitment to compliance and patient well-being.
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