In a significant strategic shift, WeightWatchers has unveiled its intention to sell Novo Nordisk's eagerly awaited Wegovy treatment in a convenient pill format, pending its launch in the United States next year.
A Strategic Partnership for Growth
This move solidifies the company's deepening partnership with the Danish pharmaceutical behemoth, Novo Nordisk. It represents a potential major boost for WeightWatchers as it navigates its way out of bankruptcy, clearly signalling its focus on providing branded obesity medications. This sets it apart from numerous rivals in the fiercely competitive market who often advocate for more affordable generic alternatives.
Tara Comonte, the Chief Executive Officer of WeightWatchers, confirmed the collaboration. She stated, "We have been working with Novo Nordisk ahead of time to support the launch of oral weight-loss medication." She further emphasised the appeal of the new format, adding, "A lot of people don't want an injection. And the convenience of a pill is going to be huge."
Expedited Reviews and Price Reductions
This development coincides with weight-loss pills from both Novo Nordisk and its competitor, Eli Lilly, being considered for an expedited U.S. review process. This could significantly fast-track their availability to consumers.
The market landscape is also being reshaped by recent pricing agreements. Both Lilly and Novo have agreed to substantially reduce the prices of their popular GLP-1 injectable drugs for U.S. government health programmes and for customers paying cash. This follows a deal announced last week by the White House.
Should the oral treatments gain approval, starter doses will be priced at $149 per month for Medicare and Medicaid enrollees, as well as for cash payers using the U.S. administration's new TrumpRx site. Commenting on the price cuts, CEO Tara Comonte said, "Anything that brings pricing down for these medications is good for WeightWatchers."
Expanding into Women's Health and Global Markets
Beyond the core weight-loss business, WeightWatchers is actively seeking to establish a stronger foothold in the women's health sector. This includes developing tailored programmes that offer access to GLP-1 medicines alongside hormone replacement therapy.
Analysts suggest that WeightWatchers may be better positioned than some telehealth rivals to retain customers on its platform. This is because doctors anticipate that U.S. patients will switch to these branded medicines once they become more affordable.
While the initial pill launch is focused on the U.S., WeightWatchers maintains a significant global presence. Outside of America, Germany and the UK are cited as major markets for the company, which reported a worldwide subscriber base of 4 million at the conclusion of 2023.
