Novo Nordisk says WeightWatchers will sell Wegovy, announces $299 price

By Amina Niasse and Mariam Sunny

(Reuters) -Novo Nordisk said on Thursday it will collaborate with WeightWatchers to sell its blockbuster weight-loss drug, Wegovy, starting July 1.

Under the deal, cash-paying patients can access a month's supply of Wegovy through the Danish drugmaker's Novocare pharmacy for $299. The one-time price will also be available through Novo's other telehealth partners through July 31, the company said in a release.

Novo recently announced the end of its collaboration with Hims and Hers Health, citing the telehealth platform's sales of Wegovy copies and marketing tactics.

WeightWatchers, which is set to exit bankruptcy, no longer offers compounded versions of semaglutide, the active ingredient in Wegovy and other Novo Nordisk medicines, according to the company's website.

"We will continue to pursue and build on agreements with companies that share our values and refine initiatives that help improve access to our FDA-approved medicines for patients," said Dave Moore, an executive vice president at Novo Nordisk, adding that it is in talks with other potential partners.

Novo said it is maintaining deals with Ro and LifeMD, rivals to WeightWatchers.

(Reporting by Mariam Sunny in Bengaluru and Amina Niasse in New York; Editing by Shreya Biswas)