A dozen lawsuits are now pressing Novo Nordisk over how it prices, markets, and even prescribes its GLP-1 drugs. If you take Ozempic or Wegovy, or you are deciding whether to start one, these cases touch what you might pay and how carefully you are evaluated before treatment begins. Regulators are also active, with new attention on compounding pharmacies and on a future GLP-1 drug still being tested in younger patients. None of this changes a current prescription, but it may affect what happens next.
One of the newer filings, Holbrook v. Hims & Hers Health Inc., raises a narrower question than the pricing cases: whether a telehealth-only visit gives a prescriber enough information before starting someone on a GLP-1 drug. The suit argues that remote evaluation, without an in-person exam, may not be sufficient given the drug's effects on the body. This does not mean telehealth prescribing is unsafe in general, and no ruling has been made. It does mean that how you were evaluated before starting a GLP-1, whether in person or by video call, could become a more common question in future cases like this one.
Washington state's lawsuit against Novo Nordisk stands apart from the other filings because a state attorney general, rather than individual patients, is bringing the claim. The state alleges that the company's marketing and pricing of Ozempic and Wegovy misled patients and insurers about what the drugs actually cost. Because a state government is the plaintiff, the case carries more weight to force a settlement or a court order than most individual lawsuits do. If Washington succeeds, the result could include refunds to patients or insurers, or changes to how Novo Nordisk prices these drugs going forward, and other states may watch this case before deciding whether to file their own.
Several of the twelve lawsuits, including Prestage v. Novo Nordisk, Dichiaro v. Novo Nordisk, and Crye v. Novo Nordisk, focus on a different claim: that the company used its patents and pricing power to keep cheaper GLP-1 competitors off the market. If proven, this kind of conduct would matter to patients because patent blocking can delay the arrival of lower-cost alternatives, including generic or biosimilar versions of these drugs. None of these cases have been decided, and the underlying facts are still being argued in court. Still, the pattern across multiple filings suggests that drug competition, not just pricing disclosure, is becoming a central issue in how Novo Nordisk is challenged.
Separately from the lawsuits, the FDA has opened a public comment period on how compounding pharmacies should register and what fees they should pay. Compounding pharmacies have become a common source of GLP-1 medications, particularly when brand-name supply runs short or a patient cannot afford the listed price. Tighter registration rules and clearer fee structures would give the FDA more visibility into who is compounding these drugs and under what conditions. This is a proposed step, not a final rule, so the practical effect on patients who currently rely on compounded GLP-1 products will depend on what the FDA decides after reviewing public feedback.
Novo Nordisk has also begun enrolling children and teenagers in a Phase 3 trial of CagriSema, a newer weight-loss drug that combines cagrilintide with semaglutide. This is a different track from the lawsuits and the FDA's rulemaking, since it concerns future treatment options rather than current pricing or access disputes. Testing in younger patients is an early step, and the drug is not yet approved for that age group. If you are a parent considering GLP-1 treatment for a child, this trial is worth knowing about, though it does not yet offer market access outside the study.
If you currently take a GLP-1 drug or are considering one, it may help to ask your prescriber how you were evaluated before treatment started, and to keep an eye on whether any of these lawsuits reach a settlement that affects pricing or refunds. It is also reasonable to watch the FDA's compounding rule as it develops, since it could change where and how you get these medications if you rely on a compounded version. None of these developments require you to change anything right now, but they may shape your options in the months ahead.
Key details
A lawsuit questions whether telehealth-only visits are enough before starting a GLP-1.
Washington state's lawsuit against Novo Nordisk could lead to refunds or pricing changes.
One lawsuit claims Novo Nordisk used patents to block cheaper GLP-1 competitors.
The FDA wants public comment on registration and fees for compounding pharmacies.
Novo Nordisk is enrolling children and teens in a trial of its newer drug CagriSema.
Read this on GLP1Laws: https://glp1laws.com/patient-lens/access-roundup-2026-09-04
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