CNBC, the Financial Times, the Wall Street Journal, and Reuters contributed to this report.
Novo Nordisk has pulled its patent fight with Hims & Hers after the two struck a deal that keeps the peace — and sent Hims shares way up on Monday.
“We have decided to drop the current court proceedings,” Novo’s CEO Mike Doustdar told CNBC, while stressing the company “reserve[s] to bring that back if need be.”
In short: the lawsuit is off the table for now, but not gone forever.
What changed? Hims agreed to stop promoting compounded GLP-1 products and to sell access to Novo’s branded semaglutide medicines — the injectable and oral options often known by trade names like Ozempic and Wegovy — on Hims’ platform at the same price other telehealth services offer. In return, Novo dropped the infringement case.
The market liked the simplicity. Hims shares jumped sharply in Monday trading, while Novo’s stock ticked up, too. Investors treated the deal like a win-win: Hims avoids a costly legal fight and keeps selling weight-loss offerings; Novo protects its brands and distribution.
Regulators had been watching the situation closely, and Hims’ change of course — no more advertising compounded GLP-1s — removes a big flashpoint. Hims said existing patients on compounded versions will be able to switch to FDA-approved options where clinicians deem it appropriate.
Hims’ CEO framed the move as part of a rapidly shifting market for anti-obesity drugs, where demand is booming and new treatments are coming. The company also said it’s talking to other drugmakers about adding more therapies to its telehealth lineup.
Bottom line: the legal drama cooled off fast. But Novo made it clear it can reopen the case if needed — so this détente could be temporary if either side steps out of line. For now, the corporate tug-of-war over semaglutide sales has paused, and Hims’ stock celebration says a lot about how the market values clarity over courtroom chaos.
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