Nicholas Saraceno, Editor

Novo Nordisk is growing coverage of its Wegovy injection 2.4 mg in the form of a new deal with WeightWatchers that takes effect July 1. Image Credit: Adobe Stock Images/Syahrir.com

Novo Nordisk is growing coverage of its Wegovy (semaglutide) injection 2.4 mg in the form of a new deal with WeightWatchers that takes effect July 1.

 CenterWell Pharmacy will be the dispensing pharmacy responsible for fulfilling and delivering the GLP-1 on behalf of NovoCare Pharmacy.

The move represents a concerted effort by Novo to expand patient access to the product. By offering Wegovy access through its integrated support system, WeightWatchers hopes to offer patients not only a more efficient experience, but a simpler way to access the medication.

"We understand that how people choose to receive care is changing, and in response to that, we are collaborating with WeightWatchers to deliver more accessible care to those living with chronic obesity," commented Dave Moore, Novo Nordisk’s executive vice president of US operations. "WeightWatchers has spent over six decades building a science-backed approach to weight management, and we see strong synergy in our shared commitment to improving long-term health outcomes. We have also been very encouraged with our existing Ro and LifeMD collaborations. 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."

Novo Nordisk is partnering with WeightWatchers and CenterWell Pharmacy to improve access to Wegovy (semaglutide) for patients managing chronic obesity.

From July 1–31, eligible self-paying patients can access Wegovy for $299, following the expiration of a previous $199 offer on June 30.

Novo Nordisk reminds the public that making or selling compounded versions of semaglutide is illegal under US law, except in rare cases.

Limited-time $299 Wegovy offer for self-pay patients

Further, from July 1 through July 31, Novo Nordisk will be promoting a new cash-offer price of $299 available for Wegovy. Self-paying patients who are new to the Wegovy savings offer or those who have not previously filled a prescription through NovoCare Pharmacy are eligible for this $299 introductory price.

There is currently a $199 Wegovy cash-offer patient price that expires today (June 30). For those patients who had redeemed this savings offer between the dates of May 22 and June 30, they would also qualify for the $299 price on one fill between the aforementioned July 1-July 31 timeframe. The monthly fee for self-paying patients after this date will increase to $499.

Novo Nordisk cracks down on illegal compounded Wegovy

Since semaglutide is FDA-approved at all dose levels and widely available in the United States, Novo Nordisk is reminding the public that making or selling compounded or imitation versions is illegal under US compounding laws, except in rare cases.

One recent example of an illegal instance occurred just last week, when Novo Nordisk terminated its partnership with Hims & Hers

 over claims that the company had been selling counterfeit versions of Wegovy and had “failed to adhere to the law which prohibits mass sales of compounded drugs under the false guise of "personalization" and are disseminating deceptive marketing that put patient safety at risk.”

Hims & Hers’ relationship ends, but Eli Lilly’s continues

Novo has been collaborating with telehealth companies to encourage additional access to the GLP-1. Although Hims & Hers’ relationship with Novo may have ended, the company has an existing partnership

 with Eli Lilly, in which they are permitted to sell Zepbound, a GLP-1 approved by the FDA for weight loss, and Mounjaro, which is not approved for weight loss but for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Both the Zepbound and Mounjaro injections will run customers $1,899 a month on the Hims & Hers website.

However, Lilly’s LillyDirect platformthat was launched back in January 2024—which is known for providing resources for disease management, featuring access to independent healthcare providers, support, and direct home delivery of certain Lilly medicines through third-party pharmacy dispensing services—offers different prices.

At the time of that announcement, Eli Lilly clarified that “has no affiliation with Hims & Hers. Zepbound (tirzepatide) can be prescribed by any licensed healthcare professional.”

1. Novo Nordisk continues efforts to support patient access to authentic, FDA approved Wegovy and prioritize patient safety. PR Newswire. June 26, 2025. Accessed June 30, 2025. 

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/novo-nordisk-continues-efforts-to-support-patient-access-to-authentic-fda-approved-wegovy-and-prioritize-patient-safety-302492419.html

2. Novo Nordisk terminates collaboration with Hims & Hers Health, Inc. due to concerns about their illegal mass compounding and deceptive marketing. PR Newswire. June 23, 2025. Accessed June 30, 2025. 

https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/novo-nordisk-terminates-collaboration-with-hims--hers-health-inc-due-to-concerns-about-their-illegal-mass-compounding-and-deceptive-marketing-302488189.html

3. Saraceno N. Hims & Hers Begins Selling Zepbound. 

. April 2, 2025. Accessed June 30, 2025. 

https://www.pharmaceuticalcommerce.com/view/hims-hers-begins-selling-zepbound

Articles

Access to the GLP-1 will be streamlined, and starting July 1, will result in a limited-time $299 price for eligible self-pay patients.

Novo Nordisk Expands Wegovy Access Through New WeightWatchers Partnership

Leading by Example

, Mark Sawicki, PhD, Cryoport Systems’ president and CEO, discusses the evolving state of global cell and gene therapy commercialization. Sawicki highlighted significant progress in key operational areas, noting that companies are now better prepared for commercial launches than in the past. Early challenges in manufacturing readiness have been largely resolved, with organizations now demonstrating clear strategies, scalable capacity, and well-vetted supply chains. Regulatory hurdles have also been substantially addressed, and most companies are effectively engaging primary launch sites, especially major academic medical centers, ensuring they are trained and ready for product deployment.

However, several persistent challenges remain. Reimbursement, particularly in Europe, continues to be a major hurdle—even for mature companies with marketed therapies. Another notable issue is physician education, especially outside of large teaching hospitals. Many community-based physicians lack a deep understanding of cell and gene therapies, creating a barrier to broader adoption.

Sawicki also pointed to community care engagementas an area needing attention. While major centers are prepared, regional and community sites are lagging in terms of readiness and support. According to available market data, current therapies are reaching only about 20% of the addressable patient population in the United States and Europe, with even lower uptake globally.

Finally, standardization of processes, particularly across clinical sites and within supply chain systems, remains an issue. Inconsistent procedures and infrastructure gaps at these levels hinder the ability of sites to fully support these complex therapies. Addressing these shortcomings will be critical to expanding access and realizing the full potential of cell and gene therapy worldwide.

Sawicki also comments on how supply chain expectations have shifted amid tighter funding, FDA leadership changes and evolving CMC standards; the critical role of cryopreservation, real-time logistics data and AI-enabled fulfillment in protecting product integrity and patient outcomes; what pharma leaders can borrow from CGT’s operational playbook to improve resilience across therapeutic areas; and much more.

What lessons can pharma leaders in traditional therapeutic areas learn from CGT’s highly specialized operational strategies, particularly in terms of supply chain resilience and adaptability?

Well, I think you have to take a step back and look at the broader pharmaceutical market. If you look at the trend in the active therapeutics that are in development, the vast majority of them have shifted into a temperature-controlled format, so biologics have had a huge expansion. You’ve got things like buy specifics, you've got all sorts of new modalities that are coming out, but almost all of them have a temperature-control requirement associated with them. With cell and gene, there's really extreme rigor around the temperature management and product management in the field because it's patient-specific material that's irreplaceable.

A lot of those learnings that have been gained over the last 10 years or so in the cell and gene space—as it relates to risk management, temperature-controlled considerations, qualification and validation of thermal packaging—all of those things are paying benefits back to the broader space today, in particular with reducing scrap rates, reducing risk, and also, the value of decentralized depots, so to speak. Instead of having one large depot that distributes all product out, they're going to more regional formats, which will help them, I think, over time, in expansion of those therapeutic classes into lesser developed areas/emerging markets. I think all of those things will pay benefits over time to the broader market.

Videos

In the fourth part of his Pharma Commerce video interview, Mark Sawicki, PhD, Cryoport Systems’ president and CEO, explains the lessons pharma leaders in traditional therapeutic areas can learn from CGT’s highly specialized operational strategies, particularly in terms of supply chain resilience and adaptability.

Peer Exchange: A Manufacturing Contingency Plan (Episode 2)

 roundtable discussion, Nicholas Saraceno, editor of 

 and the peer exchange’s moderator, introduced a discussion on the pharmaceutical supply chain, highlighting its complexity and importance in delivering medications safely and efficiently from manufacturers to patients. The conversation explored the roles of various stakeholders, the need for supply chain resilience and quality control, and the growing importance of data management in achieving these goals.

The pharmaceutical supply chain is a multi-stage system encompassing: research & development; manufacturing; distribution: pharmacies and healthcare providers; and patients.

This system plays a vital role in supporting both individual and public health. It ensures patient safety by maintaining drug quality, authenticity, and regulatory compliance. Additionally, it supports public health by providing consistent access to essential medications and vaccines. During times of crisis—such as pandemics, natural disasters, or supply disruptions—the supply chain becomes even more critical for delivering life-saving therapies and maintaining stability. Efficient supply chain logistics also contribute to cost control,

helping reduce healthcare spending and improve the affordability of medications.

Ultimately, a resilient, transparent, and well-managed pharmaceutical supply chain is foundational to maintaining global healthcare systems. It ensures that patients receive the medications they need when they need them, and that providers and manufacturers can work collaboratively to meet evolving challenges in healthcare delivery.

The panel consisted of Dave Malenfant, an expert that specializes in optimizing the supply chain through innovative solutions for people, processes, and technology; Opeyemi Odusami, a seasoned professional with over 12+ years of experience and 10+ years at Sanofi; and Bob Celeste, Founder, Center for Supply Chain Studies, and Executive Director, Open Credentialing Initiative (OCI).

Each expert brought distinctive perspectives on the value of the pharmaceutical supply chain, including techniques for resilience.

Malenfant highlighted offers a holistic, circular model defined by seven stages: plan, source, make, deliver, sell, sustain, and return. This perspective emphasizes the importance of viewing the supply chain as an interconnected system, where resiliency depends on maintaining strong links across all stages. Each segment can have its own strategy, but the key is ensuring smooth, uninterrupted flow of both materials and data from end to end. Disruptions—such as current hospital drug shortages—often reflect failures at earlier stages, like sourcing or manufacturing. For instance, many shortages stem from the inability to obtain active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), which then ripple down the chain. He encouraged the audience to think of resiliency not just as a concept, but as an ongoing process of identifying weak links and implementing strategies to strengthen them, thereby ensuring the continuity and stability of the entire supply network.

Odusami added that supply chain resiliency involves not only responding to crises but also anticipating and preventing them. In addition to maintaining a synchronized supply chain—from purchasing and manufacturing to logistics and distribution—companies must build adaptability into their systems. This means being prepared for disruptions while also using data and planning to predict future issues. A resilient supply chain ensures continuity in drug delivery to patients, even during crises. Aligning all parts of the supply chain is key to maintaining consistent access to medications and protecting public health in the face of unexpected challenges or shortages.

As for Celeste, he noted that as more regions like the United States and Europe adopt product serialization, data and product misalignment has become a growing challenge in the pharmaceutical supply chain. In the US, such mismatches often result in products being placed in quarantine, with limited time and space to resolve the issue before the product is returned or removed. A key aspect of supply chain resiliency is the ability to efficiently manage these exceptions to avoid disruptions. Since serialization errors can escalate quickly, developing systems to handle data alignment and resolve issues promptly is critical to keeping products moving through the supply chain.

The panel also dove into risk mitigation; the handling of drug shortages, and crisis management; ensuring product quality across global manufacturing sites; dealing with counterfeit products; the Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA); the importance of a developing a deep talent pipeline; sustainable practices; and much more.

In the second part of this roundtable discussion, a panel of key opinion leaders dive into the key risk factors impacting the pharma manufacturing space, and how the industry should aim to address them.

Peer Exchange: Developing a Manufacturing Contingency Plan (Episode 2)

: FDA staff cuts have created a critical gap in adverse drug event (ADE) monitoring. With ADEs being the third leading cause of death in the United States,

 what role do you see AI playing in preventing these events, especially when up to 56% are considered preventable through faster detection?

 For decades, a highly dedicated team at the FDA has grappled with monitoring ADEs, a leading yet often overlooked cause of death and hospitalization in the United States. Even before recent 20% staff reductions, the sheer volume of global scientific literature—over 4.5 million articles annually—had overwhelmed human capacity for manual review across the industry, creating a critical bottleneck impacting public safety. While Generative AI (GenAI) hype abounds, drug safety offers an immediate, transformative application that can have material benefits for public health today.

Pharmacovigilance teams, which are currently failing to keep up with the data volume and their safety requirements, can deploy these AI technologies today for rapid detection and remediation of safety issues.

Medically-tuned AI has already shown stunning results in literature review for safety and efficacy: our published studies with Moderna and Coherus

 demonstrated an 88% to 92% reduction in human review time, a jump in accuracy from 89.2% to over 96.1%, and data indexing in minutes versus months. AI continuously monitors vast, multi-lingual literature, extracting and contextualizing safety signals and going beyond keywords to suggest causality.

This efficiency, unattainable by human teams of thousands, frees highly credentialed FDA staff and pharma safety teams to conduct sophisticated signal validation and risk mitigation. By accelerating ADE detection, AI directly enhances patient safety and upholds the rigorous standards that make FDA approvals globally respected and the key step for global commercialization of novel drugs. However, challenges like hallucinations, bias, and secure processing of sensitive health information remain key adoption blockers in using commercial off-the-shelf AI solutions.

Medically tuned AI systems can reduce literature review time by over 88%, boost accuracy beyond 96%, and detect safety signals months faster than manual methods, helping prevent adverse drug events (ADEs) more effectively.

By handling overwhelming data volumes from global literature and real-world sources, AI enables regulatory and pharma teams to focus on high-value tasks like risk mitigation and complex signal validation.

Responsible, GxP/GvP-compliant AI systems—designed in alignment with evolving FDA/EMA standards—are critical. Successful integration depends on strong partnerships between tech providers, regulators, and pharma.

: The volume of medical literature overwhelming current processes is exceeding two million publications annually. How does Sorcero’s AI handle this data overload to detect safety signals faster and more reliably?

 Sorcero Safety, developed in partnership with scientific publisher Springer Nature, is designed to tackle the colossal flood of medical literature with cutting-edge Agentic and GenAI. This platform acts as an always-on intelligence agent, meticulously ingesting and analyzing vast unstructured scientific data from global sources like publications, clinical reports, and regulatory submissions. Sorcero's Agentic AI intelligently discovers information on adverse events, drug interactions, and dosages, grading evidence quality and grounding potential hallucinations. GenAI then synthesizes these findings for deeper insight.

Unlike older systems, Sorcero’s Agentic AI, trained on decades of Springer Nature’s validated pharmacovigilance datasets and understanding over 15 million biomedical concepts, builds a profound contextual understanding, accurately discerning patterns and signals across varied terminology and languages. The platform’s relentless, high-throughput processing ensures immediate analysis of new publications, slashing detection time from months to minutes, while cutting the gap between literature release and signal identification by up to five months. With hundreds of millions of publications managed via an identity graph that eliminates deduplication, Sorcero’s Agentic AI intelligently prioritizes critical signals.

This automation drastically reduces manual burden, allowing human experts to focus on high-value investigation and strategic decision-making. By integrating these powerful AI capabilities, Sorcero's platform transforms pharmacovigilance from reactive and manual to proactive, automated, and reliable for global safety signal detection.

: Regulatory compliance is a major hurdle in drug safety. What protocol is required in order for software companies to ensure that their AI solutions are GxP/GvP-compliant, while also aligning with evolving FDA and EMA standards?

 Regulatory compliance presents a significant hurdle for drug safety AI, often complicated by siloed global compliance efforts and conflicting regulations, such as the EU’s “right to be forgotten” versus FDA data retention requirements for mandatory reports. To navigate this complexity, Sorcero, in partnership with USDM Life Sciences and Google Cloud, released “A Comprehensive Guide to Responsible AI for Life Sciences.”

This guide addresses the intersection of GxP, GVP, and privacy standards like GDPR and the EU AI Act. Sorcero’s platform leverages this framework to offer “compliant out-of-the-box” solutions. It maintains a robust, transparent audit trail with human oversight for GvP compliance and operates in a secure, globally privacy-compliant environment. This approach frees life sciences teams from converting rapidly changing regulations into technical requirements, ensuring compliance without long development cycles for internal AI builds.

: With all of this technology at our disposal, how do you envision the future of AI in pharmacovigilance over the next decade, in terms of its evolution?

 Over the next decade, AI will fundamentally transform pharmacovigilance, moving it from reactive to proactive and predictive, marking the most significant shift since digital submissions. Given AI’s current accuracy and speed improvements, we anticipate identifying and resolving major safety challenges in months or years, a stark contrast to the decades it previously took—like Zantac, which took 37 years from approval to withdrawal despite widespread and longstanding issues linked to hundreds of thousands of cancer cases and billions in settlements.

Future AI will leverage integrated, multi-modal data fusion, combining de-identified electronic health records, pharmacy data, wearables, and scientific literature for a holistic understanding of drug effects and personalized risk prediction. This will enable precision pharmacovigilance, anticipating ADEs for individuals and allowing tailored drug choices. Crucially, secure, containerized AI can tackle the massive underreporting of adverse events—an estimated 94% go unreported—providing unprecedented visibility and enabling rapid action. This will foster a truly intelligent, anticipatory system dedicated to patient well-being, enhancing global safety.

: When it comes to pharmacovigilance, can humans and AI successfully coexist?

 While AI's capabilities are transformative, its ultimate value in pharmacovigilance lies in its ability to augment, not replace, human expertise. Highly skilled professionals at the FDA and within pharmaceutical companies will remain indispensable. AI will free them from high-volume tasks, allowing them to focus on complex scientific judgment, critical thinking, and strategic decision-making, leading to safer drugs and better patient outcomes. The journey to fully leverage AI in drug safety is collaborative, requiring innovation from tech providers, proactive regulatory engagement, and adaptive strategies from pharma. The goal is a future where technology and human intelligence converge for a more resilient, responsive, and safer pharmaceutical landscape.

1. New Analysis Suggests Adverse Drug Events Are the 3rd Leading Cause of Death in the USA. 

https://practicalneurology.com/news/new-analysis-suggest-adverse-drug-events-are-the-3rd-leading-cause-of-death-in-the-usa/2473820/

2. AI Under the Hood: What Natural Language Processing (NLP) Means for Pharma. 

https://4324860.fs1.hubspotusercontent-na1.net/hubfs/4324860/Sorcero%20-%20DIA%20Poster%20(Moderna%2c%20Coherus)%206_22.pdf

Dipanwita Das, CEO and co-founder of Sorcero, chats with Pharma Commerce to dig into the evolving drug development landscape, being regulatorily compliant, and the rapid advancements in artificial intelligence.