Hims & Hers' off-brand weight loss drugs made a Super Bowl splash. Here's what to know
The ad took a surprisingly political tone — with Donald Glover's 'This Is America' as its soundtrack — criticizing the high price tag of branded weight-loss drugs.
'Welcome to weight loss in America — a $160 billion industry that feeds on our failure,' said a narrator in the commercial. 'There are medications that work — but they are priced for profits, not patients.'
The adbriefly featured the company's GLP-1 injections. The weekly treatment contains compounded or off-brand semaglutide, the active ingredient in Novo Nordisk's (NVO) popular diabetes and weight-loss treatments Ozempic and Wegovy. Where the controversy comes is that, unlike Wegovy ads, the Hims & Hers spot did not include a list of risk disclaimers.
Several industry groups and lawmakers called the commercial misleading and urged the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to take action against the ad. Meanwhile, Hims & Hers said the backlash was 'a clear attempt by industry groups to cancel an advertisement that directly calls out how they are part of a system that fails to prioritize the health of Americans.'
Here is everything you need about Hims & Hers' compounded weight-loss drugs.
Compounding is the process of customizing an approved drug by a state-licensed pharmacist or physician to meet the specific needs of an individual patient. The alterations of these medications can include making a higher dosage, reformulating a drug to not include ingredients a patient may be allergic to, and changing a pill into liquid form.
Outsourcing facilities can also compound drugs under the supervision of a licensed pharmacist.
There are about 7,500 pharmacies in the United States that focus on compounded drugs, according to the American Pharmacists Association.
Typically, the Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act prohibits compounding drugs that are just copies of commercially available medications. However, drugs that are in shortage are not considered by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to be commercially available.
Wegovy is currently in shortage due to increased demand, according to an FDA database. Because of this, compounders are allowed to buy semaglutide from drug ingredient makers to compound it into injectable formulations. These formulations could be mixed with B vitamins or L-carnitine.
Hims & Hers in May began offering customers compounded semaglutide injections for just $199 a month — hundreds of dollars cheaper than Ozempic's nearly $1,000 list price and Wegovy's $1,349 price tag.
The compounded formulations are not FDA-approved, so the agency does not review the safety and efficacy of these products
The FDA said last year that it had received adverse event reports from patients taking a compounded semaglutide and recommended that patients not use a compounded drug if an approved drug is available. The agency specifically warned about reports of some compounders using salt forms of semaglutide — which is different from the semaglutide used in approved products like Wegovy — in their formulations.
For its part, Hims & Hers said they conducted exhaustive research and vetting for over a year before partnering with a leading U.S. manufacturer of generic and compounded drugs.
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Newsweek
3 hours ago
- Newsweek
Millions Across 11 States Told To Stay out of Sun, Limit Activity
Based on facts, either observed and verified firsthand by the reporter, or reported and verified from knowledgeable sources. Newsweek AI is in beta. Translations may contain inaccuracies—please refer to the original content. Millions of Americans across almost a dozen states were instructed to stay out of the sun and limit outdoor activities, as the National Weather Service (NWS) issued a sweeping series of extreme heat warnings and advisories amid dangerous temperatures. Dozens of cities in 11 states throughout the South, Midwest, and Southwest face dangerous heat, prompting health alerts and safety guidance for vulnerable communities. Why It Matters The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) warned that extreme heat is the deadliest weather phenomenon in the United States, causing more than 700 deaths annually. Vulnerable populations, including children, seniors, and people with chronic health conditions, face elevated risks of heat-related illness such as heat stroke and exhaustion. Rising temperatures also amplify ground-level ozone pollution, compounding risks for those with asthma or heart complaints. People drink water as they walk along the National Mall near the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C., on July 25, 2025, as a heat dome sits over the region leading to extremely high temperatures. People drink water as they walk along the National Mall near the Washington Monument in Washington, D.C., on July 25, 2025, as a heat dome sits over the region leading to extremely high temperatures. Getty Images What To Know According to the NWS Extreme Heat Warning map and recent reports, extreme heat warnings are in effect for 11 states—affecting hundreds of cities and millions of residents. The hardest-hit areas were parts of Iowa, southwest Minnesota, northeast Nebraska, and most of South Dakota. These regions are forecast to experience heat index values at or above 110 degrees Fahrenheit. In their statements on the heat warning, the NWS advised: "Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay out of the sun, and check up on relatives and neighbors." Officials reiterated not to leave children or pets unattended in vehicles, as car interiors can reach deadly temperatures within minutes. "For the Heat Advisory, warm and muggy conditions will continue early this morning. For the Extreme Heat Warning, dangerously hot conditions with heat index values 111 to 115 expected," the NWS said. Simultaneously, less severe heat advisories stretched across the South, Midwest, and Northeast—including Georgia and southeast South Carolina, where forecast heat index values routinely top 100 F. Cities across affected regions have opened cooling centers for residents without air conditioning, with officials encouraging people to stay indoors and avoid outdoor activities during peak heat hours. The exact temperature thresholds that trigger heat advisories vary geographically, but all current warnings indicate conditions that push the human body beyond normal heat tolerance limits. What People Are Saying The NWS in Phoenix, Arizona, said in a statement on Sunday: "Drink plenty of fluids, stay in an air-conditioned room, stay in the shade, and check up on relatives and neighbors. "Do not leave young children and pets in unattended vehicles. Car interiors will reach lethal temperatures in a matter of minutes. "Take extra precautions when outside. Wear lightweight and loose fitting clothing. Try to limit strenuous activities to early morning or evening. Take action when you see symptoms of heat exhaustion and heat stroke." What Happens Next At the time of publication, the latest extreme heat warnings remain in effect until at least 9 p.m. CDT Thursday, with the NWS advising residents to stay informed as conditions may shift.
