Digital health company Noom announced Thursday that it will offer a combination GLP-1 drug as part of a new weight loss product line starting at $149.
The treatment will include the combination semaglutide, the same active ingredient in Novo Nordisk’s blockbuster obesity and diabetes drugs, Wegovy and Ozempic. Noom has been offering weight loss products for years, and consumers can already try to access these brand-name drugs through its platform.
But Noom is the latest in a series of digital health companies offering compounded versions of the drugs as a cheaper option for consumers as demand for weight-loss and diabetes drugs soars. His and hers and Sesame have launched similar programs in recent months — and the market for low-cost alternatives has grown more competitive.
“Our position is that more supply, especially at a reasonable price, is needed now, not less,” Noom CEO Geoff Cook told CNBC in an interview.
Wegovy and Ozempic belong to a very popular class of drugs called GLP-1s, which mimic certain gut hormones to reduce a patient’s appetite and control their blood sugar. Formulated versions are customized alternatives to brand-name drugs and can be produced when brand-name treatments are lacking.
Compounded GLP-1 drugs are usually much less expensive than their brand-name counterparts. Wegovy and Ozempic both cost about $1,000 a month for coverage. Most insurance plans cover GLP-1 when used to treat diabetes, but coverage for diet pills is less widespread. Increased demand may also make it difficult for many patients to find the brand-name treatments.
Cook said consumers will pay $149 for their first month on Noom’s plan and $279 for subsequent months as the dose of their drug increases.
The US Food and Drug Administration does not review the safety and efficacy of combination products, and the agency has encouraged consumers to take the approved, labeled GLP-1 drugs when they are available. However, the FDA inspects some outsourcing facilities that compound drugs, according to its website.
Noom said it is working with 503B pharmacies regulated by the FDA to provide drugs for its new program, called Noom GLP-1 RX.
“The drug manufacturer we’re working with makes 20 generics, epinephrine is one of them — a life-saving drug that’s available in hospitals all over the United States,” said Dr. Adonis Saremi, Noom’s chief medical officer, told CNBC in an interview. . “So we’re very confident and happy with our inspection process.”
The company said so has also introduced a way for participants to taper off the combination therapy if they want to stop taking it. GLP-1s are intended for long-term use, which means some patients may end up taking them indefinitely.
Cook said Noom has seen both anecdotal and real-world evidence that patients can maintain weight loss after they stop taking the drugs. Six out of seven patients are off GLP-1 by the two-year mark anyway, he said.
“It’s prescribed by the doctor, the person takes their medication, they lose weight, but then life happens,” Cook said. “They eventually stop taking the medication, or their insurance stops covering it, they’ll change jobs [so] it is no longer hidden.”
Cook said not everyone will be able to taper off the drug, so some will likely end up taking it indefinitely. The company will provide a free year of Noom or a “significant drug discount” to anyone who regains weight within 18 months of following its program for a year, the release said.
Consumers can get started with the Noom GLP-1 RX program by filling out an intake form on the website. Noom said one of its contracted, obesity-trained physicians will review the intake form and determine whether the combination drug is appropriate for that patient. If so, the drugs will arrive at their doorsteps within a week, Noom said.
Participants will learn how to inject their medicine, and they can use a chat function to talk one-on-one with a trainer and their Noom doctor, the company said. They will also have access to various psychology-based programming and tools to prevent them from losing muscle mass, such as features to monitor protein intake and participate in resistance training, Noom said.
And if users decide they’re ready to stop taking the drug, they can chat with their doctor or click “Start taper” in their settings, Noom said.
“I think there are a lot of people who don’t want to be on medication for the rest of their lives, and in any case, people aren’t doing that in the real world,” Cook said. “Our goal is just not to sell more drugs. It’s to promote sustained weight loss.”
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