Latest news with #JeffreyEgler
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Weight-loss company Noom pivots to smaller doses of compounded Wegovy
By Amina Niasse NEW YORK (Reuters) -Online weight-loss company Noom has begun offering smaller doses of compounded versions of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy as the U.S. drugs regulator clamps down on mass production of copies of the in-demand medicine. Noom will offer its version of compounded semaglutide - the active ingredient in Wegovy and diabetes drug Ozempic - as part of a program personalized for patients, which it says will comply with changing U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulations. Demand for the new generation of highly effective but pricey weight-loss drugs has catapulted sales at Noom and rival telehealth sites including Hims & Hers, WeightWatchers and Ro over the past two years. Taking small doses of the weight-loss drugs, sometimes referred to as micro-dosing, has become popular due to the high cost and side effects of the medicines. For hundreds of dollars less than the name brand drugs, patients could access doctors and pharmacy-made versions based on semaglutide or tirzepatide, the main ingredient in Eli Lilly's rival Zepbound and Mounjaro, due to a regulatory exception allowing them during drug shortages. However, the FDA declared the shortages over and its sunset deadline for compounded versions of Wegovy is May 22. Noom offers its compounded semaglutide at a starting price of $149 for the first month. A 2.5 milligram vial of Wegovy or Zepbound costs $349, according to Novo and Lilly websites. Analysts have said the telehealth companies must pivot to working with branded drugs in order to survive after WeightWatchers filed for bankruptcy. Jeffrey Egler, Noom's chief medical officer, said providers would determine if patients need a smaller dose because of concerns about gastrointestinal side effects, or to boost adherence or help keep lost weight off, for example. Noom CEO Geoff Cook said the move would not conflict with regulations. 'There is a personalized, and there has always been a personalized, exception,' Cook said. Novo Nordisk said it is illegal to make or sell semaglutide copies in the U.S. with only rare exceptions. "As the FDA has warned, compounders cannot evade federal compounding laws by selling knockoff semaglutide drugs with manipulated, unnecessary, and pretextual changes to doses and ingredients," a Novo Nordisk spokesperson said in a statement. DOSING Noom's documents show that a personalized approach could start with half the typical starter 0.25-milligram dose of Wegovy and gradually increase to about half the FDA-approved maximum dose of 2.4 mg over 20 weeks. Noom said the move is not meant to capitalize on the microdosing trend, saying patients could increase their dose to the target, just more slowly. Noom said it will continue selling branded Novo Nordisk drugs as well as Lilly's Zepbound. Clinical trials of Wegovy and Zepbound have shown the drugs can lead to reductions of 15% to 20% of a person's body weight. A recent study suggests that half the usual dose of semaglutide may be as effective a weight-loss tool as current dosing. While compounders can create copies for individuals of doses not available in branded drugs, ongoing FDA reviews of whether tirzepatide and semaglutide fall into a category of drugs too complex to qualify for any compounding could put an end to the practice, said Rosalie Hoyle, a research scientist at Avalere. 'As it stands today, compounders still can technically make a personalized dose of semaglutide and tirzepatide,' she said.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Weight-loss company Noom pivots to smaller doses of compounded Wegovy
By Amina Niasse NEW YORK (Reuters) -Online weight-loss company Noom has begun offering smaller doses of compounded versions of Novo Nordisk's Wegovy as the U.S. drugs regulator clamps down on mass production of copies of the in-demand medicine. Noom will offer its version of compounded semaglutide - the active ingredient in Wegovy and diabetes drug Ozempic - as part of a program personalized for patients, which it says will comply with changing U.S. Food and Drug Administration regulations. Demand for the new generation of highly effective but pricey weight-loss drugs has catapulted sales at Noom and rival telehealth sites including Hims & Hers, WeightWatchers and Ro over the past two years. Taking small doses of the weight-loss drugs, sometimes referred to as micro-dosing, has become popular due to the high cost and side effects of the medicines. For hundreds of dollars less than the name brand drugs, patients could access doctors and pharmacy-made versions based on semaglutide or tirzepatide, the main ingredient in Eli Lilly's rival Zepbound and Mounjaro, due to a regulatory exception allowing them during drug shortages. However, the FDA declared the shortages over and its sunset deadline for compounded versions of Wegovy is May 22. Noom offers its compounded semaglutide at a starting price of $149 for the first month. A 2.5 milligram vial of Wegovy or Zepbound costs $349, according to Novo and Lilly websites. Analysts have said the telehealth companies must pivot to working with branded drugs in order to survive after WeightWatchers filed for bankruptcy. Jeffrey Egler, Noom's chief medical officer, said providers would determine if patients need a smaller dose because of concerns about gastrointestinal side effects, or to boost adherence or help keep lost weight off, for example. Noom CEO Geoff Cook said the move would not conflict with regulations. 'There is a personalized, and there has always been a personalized, exception,' Cook said. Novo Nordisk said it is illegal to make or sell semaglutide copies in the U.S. with only rare exceptions. "As the FDA has warned, compounders cannot evade federal compounding laws by selling knockoff semaglutide drugs with manipulated, unnecessary, and pretextual changes to doses and ingredients," a Novo Nordisk spokesperson said in a statement. DOSING Noom's documents show that a personalized approach could start with half the typical starter 0.25-milligram dose of Wegovy and gradually increase to about half the FDA-approved maximum dose of 2.4 mg over 20 weeks. Noom said the move is not meant to capitalize on the microdosing trend, saying patients could increase their dose to the target, just more slowly. Noom said it will continue selling branded Novo Nordisk drugs as well as Lilly's Zepbound. Clinical trials of Wegovy and Zepbound have shown the drugs can lead to reductions of 15% to 20% of a person's body weight. A recent study suggests that half the usual dose of semaglutide may be as effective a weight-loss tool as current dosing. While compounders can create copies for individuals of doses not available in branded drugs, ongoing FDA reviews of whether tirzepatide and semaglutide fall into a category of drugs too complex to qualify for any compounding could put an end to the practice, said Rosalie Hoyle, a research scientist at Avalere. 'As it stands today, compounders still can technically make a personalized dose of semaglutide and tirzepatide,' she said. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Associated Press
07-04-2025
- Business
- Associated Press
Noom appoints Dr. Jeffrey Egler as Chief Medical Officer to Lead Innovation in Healthy Aging and Longevity
Dr. Egler brings extensive experience in functional medicine leadership to Noom as it expands its services to meet consumer health demands across a wider range of medical issues NEW YORK, April 07, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Noom, the leading digital healthcare company committed to chronic disease prevention and empowering people to live better longer, announced today that Dr. Jeffrey Egler will be joining as the new Chief Medical Officer (CMO). Dr. Egler's functional and longevity medicine background positions him to help build upon the success of Noom's GLP-1(RX) product line, which reached an impressive $100 million run-rate within months of launch. As Noom diversifies its growth engine and continues to evolve its offerings, Dr. Egler will help shape the next phase of innovation while leveraging his family medicine background to support Noom's current suite of services. 'We at Noom took to heart former Surgeon General Vivek Murthy's challenge to the tech sector,' said Geoff Cook, Chief Executive Officer of Noom. ''to intentionally design technology to foster human flourishing and longevity.' That's what we do every day. Dr. Egler and I share a vision for Noom: adding hundreds of millions of years of healthspan–quality years full of possibility–for people all around the globe. To get there, we need astute clinical leadership from someone passionate for longevity medicine, for functional health, and for psychology–who understands in their bones the importance of healthy habits to human flourishing. Dr. Egler is that innovative leader.' 'Noom makes it easy, fun, and rewarding to make health a habit,' continued Cook. 'People trust Noom to hold them accountable and to motivate and inspire them each day. I know Dr. Egler understands the importance of that trust. With his leadership, we will motivate our members to be their best self today and every day, which when applied consistently over the course of a lifetime, adds up to extra years of life full of energy and vitality.' Dr. Egler, is a double board-certified physician in Family Medicine and Lifestyle Medicine, with expertise in holistic, longevity-focused care. He has additionally completed certification training in Functional Medicine and a master's degree in Spiritual Psychology. Most recently, he served as the Medical Director at Next Health, a company leading in the emerging longevity space, where he helped drive innovative approaches to preventative medicine, bio-optimization, and personal wellness. Dr. Egler has held leadership positions at Adventist Health and Parsley Health, where he was integral in building clinical protocols and expanding multidisciplinary teams centered on whole-person, longevity-driven care. Earlier in his career, Dr. Egler completed an academic medicine fellowship in Faculty Development at UCLA, practiced the full spectrum of family medicine, including adult and pediatric care, surgery, emergency and hospital medicine, and obstetrics and gynecology continuing on to serve as an Assistant Clinical Professor of Family Medicine at the University of Southern California. 'As both a physician and a health technology leader, I have witnessed Noom deftly fill critical gaps in consumer healthcare where our existing systems fail patients and those who wish to improve the length and quality of their lives,' said Dr. Jeffrey Egler, Chief Medical Officer of Noom. 'I have been impressed by both the speed and the precision with which Noom operates to meet consumer demand for better choices and services, and I'm eager to help lead the company's efforts in transforming healthcare by advancing its success in longevity medicine. I have been particularly drawn to Noom's innovative spirit and am very excited about our expanding product pipeline. There is so much potential to do more for people as they age, in addition to weight management, and I look forward to being a part of this exciting journey. Our ambition is to make Noom the front door for all to health optimization, healthy aging and longevity.' Dr. Egler holds a master's degree in Spiritual Psychology and has completed certification training with both the Institute of Functional Medicine and the America College of Lifestyle Medicine, emphasizing his approach to treating the whole person through mind-body practices and evidence-based medical care. Noom is poised to redefine the landscape of healthy aging, offering individuals comprehensive solutions that support overall well-being throughout their lifespan. The company's growing product portfolio, along with Dr. Egler's leadership, places Noom at the forefront of the longevity and healthy aging movement. About Noom: Noom is a digital healthcare company empowering everyone, everywhere to live better longer, through an unwavering commitment to innovation and whole-person health. Noom connects people to content, coaching, community, and clinicians to promote positive behavior and healthy habits, in an effort to promote healthspan and better living. Noom also works with leading health plans and employers offering Noom Med Center Of Excellence, Noom GLP-1 Companion, Noom Healthy Weight, and Noom Diabetes Prevention to millions of covered lives. The company has been awarded multiple grants from the National Institutes of Health and was the first mobile application to be recognized by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention as a certified diabetes prevention program. With offices in New York City and Princeton, NJ, Noom has been named one of Inc.'s Best Places to Work, Quartz's Best Workplaces for Remote Workers, and Fortune's Best Workplaces in Technology. For more information, please visit subscribe to our blog, or follow us on Twitter and LinkedIn. Brandyn Bissinger
