A Super Bowl advertisement by telehealth company Hims & Hers has drawn criticism from drug industry groups and health advocates who claim it lacks adequate safety disclosures for weight loss medications.
The ad, which aired during Sunday’s big game, critiques the $160 billion weight-loss industry and promotes the company’s services for accessing medications via smartphone. Although the specific drugs are not named in the ad, Hims & Hers offers compounded versions of semaglutide, a weight loss drug initially developed by Novo Nordisk and marketed under brand names like Wegovy and Ozempic.
The Partnership for Safe Medicines, a coalition of more than 40 pharmacy and community organizations, has urged the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to intervene, arguing the advertisement is “misleading in its entirety.” The group also called on Fox to pull the ad before it aired. Their concerns include the ad’s omission of the fact that compounded drugs are not FDA-approved and may carry additional risks for patients.
Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America (PhRMA), an industry trade group, echoed these concerns, stating that the ad breaches federal rules by not fully disclosing safety and side effect information. Senators Dick Durbin (D-Ill.) and Roger Marshall (R-Kan.) also wrote to the FDA, warning that the ad might mislead consumers.
Hims & Hers maintains that it adheres to advertising requirements for telehealth platforms, emphasizing that it is not a drug manufacturer. The company connects customers with licensed healthcare providers for online evaluations and prescriptions. In a statement, Hims & Hers accused the drug industry of attempting to stifle awareness about healthcare options, stating:
“The system is broken, and this is just another example of how they don’t want Americans to know they have options.”
The ad aired during the third quarter of the game without changes, despite the criticism and requests for its removal. Hims & Hers also shared the advertisement on social media.
The controversy highlights an ongoing battle between pharmaceutical companies marketing high-cost weight-loss drugs and compounding pharmacies offering less expensive alternatives. The FDA permits compounding pharmacies to create versions of drugs during shortages, but these pharmacies face restrictions once the shortage is resolved.
Hims & Hers markets compounded semaglutide, which remains in short supply according to the FDA. Critics argue that compounded versions do not match the safety and efficacy profile of brand-name drugs developed through extensive research and investment.
