The news: Hims & Hers is officially bringing its subscription weight loss program to the UK. Hims has been offering some treatments and services in the UK, but plans to expand its presence after acquiring Zava, a telehealth company operating in several European countries.

Digging into the details: Hims’ UK platform will offer Eli Lilly’s Mounjaro and Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy to members deemed eligible by their doctors.

• Wegovy will be available at a starting price of £149 ($199) per month, while Mounjauro will be priced starting at £260 ($348) per month.
• UK weight loss program members will also get 24/7 virtual access to Hims’ care team.

Why it matters: 64% of UK adults are considered obese or overweight, but it’s hard for them to get GLP-1 prescriptions if they’re covered under Britain’s publicly funded health system, the National Health Service (NHS).

• The NHS prioritizes covering GLP-1s for people with diabetes, and has stricter BMI criteria than the US when used to treat obesity.
• UK patients who are willing to pay more for the drugs out of pocket can get GLP-1 prescriptions through various private clinics and online healthcare companies (like Hims).
• Unlike in the US, the UK bans direct-to-consumer drug advertising, which likely means fewer people ask their doctors about weight loss drug prescriptions.

Implications for the weight loss drug market: Government restrictions on GLP-1 access in the UK provide an opportunity for private healthcare companies to meet consumer demand.

However, rising prices of some GLP-1 medications in the UK may lower the incentive for consumers to sign up for a membership that gives them access to the meds. For a while, brand-name weight loss drugs were cheaper in the UK than in the US, but the Trump administration is working with Big Pharma to equalize medication prices across wealthy nations. For instance, Lilly recently hiked the price of Mounjaro in the UK by as much as 170% depending on the dose. Companies like Hims must lean into their other advantages, such as fast, convenient access to doctors and personalized treatment plans.

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