When WW International (WW), more commonly referred to as WeightWatchers, made the announcement on Tuesday that it will be offering a knockoff of the most popular weight-loss medications, the news caused shares of WW International (WW), more commonly referred to as WeightWatchers, to rise by nearly 25%.
“Access to clinical weight management interventions that are underpinned by the comprehensive, science-backed, behavioral and lifestyle support that has helped millions of people reach and sustain their weight goals,” WW stated of its eligible members receiving compounded semaglutide. “1 Semaglutide is the active ingredient in the obesity treatment Wegovy from Novo Nordisk (NVO) as well as the diabetes medications Ozempic and Rybelsus from NVO, both of which have been shown to aid in weight loss.
Drugs for losing weight have been hard to come by.
WW’s interim CEO Tara Comonte stated that the company is “expanding our offering to include a clinical weight management solution that is both accessible and affordable.” The company noted that there has been a shortage of drugs to help people lose weight.
Compounding is the process of adding another drug to a patented one. WW mentioned that it chose a compounding company that uses the same manufacturing standards that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) uses to make drugs that have been approved by the FDA.
As a result of the success of Wegovy and others, demand for the services provided by WW International has decreased, and the company’s shares have been falling, reaching an all-time low in September. In 2024, the shares are down nearly 90% despite today’s gains.
