Hims & Hers She Offers Universal Semaglutide as Novo Nordisk Patent Lapses

Hims & Her Health Announced on Wednesday that it will offer a universal semaglutide in Canada Novo NordiskPatents for branded drugs from Ozempic and Wegovy will expire in January.

“Canada is a major opportunity to showcase affordable and high-quality weight loss care,” said Andrew Dudum, co-founder and CEO of Hims & Hers in a press release. “With the first time universal Semaglutide is being used globally, we focus on making it truly accessible by combining affordability with trusted personalized care.”

Telemedicine platform Hims joins a growing list of drugmakers who hope to enjoy patents on Novo Nordisk’s GLP-1. This is the first time the company operates in Canada.

Generic drugs are essentially copies of brands such as Ozempic or Wegovy, which have the same efficacy, follow the same safety standards, and are allowed after the patent expires. These drugs differ from drugs of compounds, which are personalized treatments that change in form or differ from commercially available doses.

According to market research firm Large View Research.

There is still no universal version of Semaglutide in the market that has been approved by Health Canada, but the approval process for some in the industry has begun.

Sandoz, a global leader in general medicine manufacturing, Tell Science In early June, it applied to approve a universal version of Semaglutide along with Canadian regulators Health Canada. Hims did not say in the announcement whether a similar review application had begun, but did point out that it was working with “approved partners” to ensure it complies with all local laws and regulations.

Some in the industry are concerned that Novo allows its patent mistakes, and it’s Wegovy’s Lost ground arrive YililaiIn the U.S., Zepbound, a spokesman for the company told CNBC that all decisions on intellectual property were “careful consideration,” adding: “The exclusive period of drugs is part of their normal life cycle and may be offered over time.”

This announcement from HIMS follows the company’s recent closure get of European telemedicine platform Miracleexpanding Europe’s health platform to Ireland, France and Germany.

This is also after Novo Nordisk Ended its cooperation With Hims & hers, people worry about the company’s sales and the cheaper counterfeits that promote their weight loss pills Wegovy.

According to Canadian Patent DatabaseNovo owns Semaglutide’s patent, but the last annual maintenance fee paid by the company was in 2018.

Novo Nordisk’s attorneys requested a refund to pay a 250 Canadian dollar ($185) paid maintenance fee for 2017, as the company hopes to have more time to see if it wants to pay.

Two years later, the office sent a letter saying the fee now includes delay charges, which will total $450 and is not received on the prescribed expiration date.

Novo Nordisk has a one-year grace payment, but never has it, so the patent passes in Canada. It expired when no fees were received in 2020, but it did not expire until January.

Canadian authorities confirmed in a letter that “once the patent expires, it cannot be restored.”

“Making affordable overall obesity timely and timely can help strengthen local health care systems and unlock the lives of millions of Canadians for healthier, more fulfilling lives,” said David Meinertz, general manager of Hims & Ther International Business.