Lilly to sell obesity drugs directly through the Hims & Hers website

what happened

Eli Lilly said on Friday that telehealth company Hims & Hers Health will be allowed to sell its obesity drugs Zepbound and Foundayo directly on its platform, Reuters reported.

Until now, Hims & Hers customers could get the Lilly drugs only by leaving the site and buying through Lilly's own cash-pay platform, LillyDirect. The change puts Lilly on equal footing with Danish rival Novo Nordisk, which has sold Wegovy and Ozempic through Hims & Hers since March. Under the agreement, Hims & Hers will not sell compounded versions or knockoffs of Lilly's obesity medications.

why it matters

The deal strengthens Lilly's position in a fast-growing obesity drug market and widens its self-pay sales channels. For Hims & Hers, it adds a stream of customers, while for Novo Nordisk it signals tougher competition in the segment. Analysts have said Hims & Hers may benefit next year if employers stop covering weight-loss drugs.

market impact

Hims & Hers: access to Lilly drugs on the platform supports business growth; Novo Nordisk: competition on equal terms

• ▲Hims & Hers shares pressure up — new sales channel for Lilly's popular obesity drugs on the platform
• ↔Novo Nordisk shares mixed — competition with Lilly intensifies, though Novo already sells via Hims & Hers

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instruments