WeightWatchers lifeline as company set to offer Wegovy anti-obesity pill

Weight loss pills from Novo and rival Eli Lilly are under consideration

WeightWatchers (Getty Images)

WeightWatchers has revealed plans to offer Novo Nordisk's highly anticipated obesity drug, Wegovy, in its pill form, should it launch in the United States next year. This move deepens its existing collaboration with the Danish pharmaceutical firm.

The partnership represents a potential lifeline for WeightWatchers as it emerges from bankruptcy, underscoring its commitment to branded obesity medications. This strategy distinguishes it from rivals who often promote cheaper generic alternatives in a fiercely competitive market.

"We have been working with Novo Nordisk ahead of time to support the launch of oral weight-loss medication," WeightWatchers CEO Tara Comonte said in an interview.

"A lot of people don't want an injection. And the convenience of a pill is going to be huge," she said.

Weight loss pills from Novo and rival Eli Lilly are under consideration for a new, speedy U.S. review pathway that can shave months from the normal approval process.

"If and when it is approved, we will communicate the ways in which we will make it accessible and affordable in line with our mission to serve patients in the U.S. with obesity," a spokesperson for Novo Nordisk said.

The Danish drugmaker expects a decision during the fourth quarter.

The injectable weight-loss medication Wegovy (Scott Olson/Getty Images)

WeightWatchers could keep more customers on its platform than telehealth rivals, as doctors expect U.S. patients to switch to the branded medicines once prices come down under a deal announced last week by the White House.

Lilly and Novo agreed to slash prices of their popular GLP-1 injectable drugs for U.S. government health programs and cash-paying customers.

Starter doses of the weight-loss pills, if approved, will cost $149 a month for Medicare and Medicaid enrollees and for cash payers through the U.S. administration's new TrumpRx site.

"Anything that brings pricing down for these medications is good for WeightWatchers," Comonte said.

WeightWatchers is also trying to gain a stronger foothold in women's health, including through tailored programs that offer GLP-1 medicines and hormone replacement therapy.

Outside of the U.S., Germany and the UK are major markets for WeightWatchers, which had 4 million subscribers worldwide at the end of 2023.