Why We Launched Noom GLP-1^RX

We Launched Noom GLP-1^Rx Because Pairing Powerful, Affordable Meds with a Pathway Off the Meds is in the Public Interest.

At Noom, our mission is to empower everyone, everywhere to live better longer through an unwavering commitment to innovation and whole-person health. That’s why we’re excited about our newest offering: Noom GLP-1^Rx.

With Noom GLP-1^Rx, we will not only deliver highly efficacious medications to the door within 7 days; we will pair these powerful meds with a powerful companion – our GLP-1 Companion with Muscle Defense^TM.

Because we value safety and accessibility, we’ve thoroughly vetted and partnered with an FDA-regulated* compounding pharmacy to make these medications widely available in the United States, starting at $149.

Weight Loss Accessibility and Affordability

At Noom, our goal is NOT to sell more meds; it’s to drive sustainable weight loss outcomes. We believe the vast majority of people we treat will ultimately find in Noom a pathway off GLP-1 medication. The medication kickstarts the weight loss that Noom helps to sustain.

Today, we’re also announcing the “Noom Taper-Off Guarantee” to those who wish to taper off the medication. The program provides a year of free Noom or substantial medication discounts to anyone who regains the weight within 18 months following a 12-month course of Noom GLP-1^Rx, including Noom’s taper protocol. 

Let’s be clear: We have adopted compounded semaglutide because the brand-name GLP-1 medications available in the United States are both unaffordable and unavailable – they’re priced at levels as much as 10 times greater than the very same meds sold in international markets such as the UK and Australia. They also continue to be unavailable due to global drug shortages and supply chain issues. 

These high prices are a significant barrier to access to these life-changing medications. While we hope for a future of widely available, low-cost brand-name meds and generic GLP-1s, the bridge to that future runs through partnering with FDA-regulated* compounding pharmacies. That’s how we’ll bring high-quality medications and sustained weight loss outcomes to every American – and eventually, to everyone in the world.

The Problem

Our nation faces an obesity crisis. Nearly 1 in 3 adults in the U.S. are considered overweight, more than 2 in 5 adults have obesity, and about 1 in 11 adults have severe obesity (source: CDC). Obesity and other diet-related diseases (like cardiovascular disease, hypertension, and type 2 diabetes) are a leading cause of death in the U.S.

Nearly half of all American adults are interested in taking weight loss drugs (source: KFF Tracking Poll, July 2023). These FDA-approved GLP-1 medications for weight loss are highly effective. Wegovy (semaglutide) has been shown to help patients achieve up to 20% or more weight loss. However, most Americans simply can’t get them. The drugs are both unavailable and too expensive.

In the United States, weight loss drugs are priced substantially higher than in other countries. The list price of one popular medication is $1,349 a month in the U.S. The same product can be purchased for just $137 in Germany and $92 in the United Kingdom. 

Several employers and plans have stopped coverage for Wegovy and other weight loss drugs, citing unsustainable growth in prescription drug costs and premiums, and many more have opted not to cover them in the first place. It is difficult to justify these prices based on the cost of production of the medications, which may cost as little as five dollars a dose.

Price is one challenge. Access is another. These drugs are hard to access even for those who can afford them. Due to widespread drug shortages, many people across the U.S. are struggling to get their prescriptions filled. At Noom, we see the devastating effect of these drug shortages. Millions of Americans that stand to benefit from these drugs are unable to get them. 

We view the shortage of GLP-1s to be much worse than the official data suggests because the prices of these medications in the U.S. are maintained at such artificially high levels compared to every other large-market country in the world, restricting demand for brand-name meds but increasing demand for compounded meds. 

We call on policymakers and regulators to take into account this increase in demand and maintain compounding exemptions until the price of the brand-name medications in New York and Los Angeles match their price in London and Sydney. The bottom line is these medications should be $200-$300 a month, not $1300. Policymakers and regulators should demand this or keep the shortage in place to meet the very real demand at these lower prices—the same prices at which these medications are available in the rest of the world. As a longer term solution to address this problem, we also call for bi-partisan legislation to cap drug prices or extend shortages until the brand-name price falls. More supply at a reasonable price is needed right now, not less.

We need expanded access to weight loss medications at a reasonable price. We launched Noom GLP-1^Rx to meet the needs of the market in the United States for affordable weight loss medications until such time as brand-name supply of diabetes and obesity medications is available at a reasonable price.

Noom GLP-1^Rx will get these medications to a patient’s door – in seven days. We believe that’s an ideal timeframe to make the greatest impact on health, and lessen the burden of our nation’s obesity crisis.

Compounding in Scarcity is a Public Good

Popular weight loss drugs Wegovy and Ozempic are in short supply, according to the FDA’s drug shortage list because demand has outweighed the available supply. While the drugs themselves may not be very expensive to manufacture, there are challenges to producing the delivery mechanism, the injection pen, at scale. This is exactly the type of situation where compounding pharmacies can and must step in to alleviate the shortage.

According to the FDA, when a drug is in shortage, compounding pharmacies may be able to prepare a compounded version of that drug if they meet certain requirements in the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic (FD&C) Act.

There has been some debate about the safety of compounded drugs. FDA officials have issued warnings about compounded medications after having received reports of adverse reactions to weight loss medications. Some unscrupulous online sellers have been accused of marketing counterfeit weight loss drugs. 

Noom chose its 503B compounding pharmacy for its impressive safety profile. The company we chose produces 22 generic medications and is a primary supplier of all the non-epipen epinephrine shipped to hospitals in the U.S.  The process is fully robotic and sterile. See the post from Noom’s Chief Medical Officer Dr. Adonis Saremi for information related to FDA-approved vs. compounded semaglutide.

While there are undoubtedly some bad actors, there is no case to be made to taint the broader compounding industry, and in particular 503B FDA-regulated* pharmacies. When done properly, compounding serves a vital public good. This is certainly the case when it comes to compounded semaglutide, so critical to addressing our nation’s obesity crisis.

Our Commitment to Compounding Excellence

To understand the discussion around compounding GLP-1 drugs, it’s important to understand the different types of compounding facilities. We must not conflate compounded meds from FDA-regulated* compounding pharmacies with counterfeit meds produced by fraudulent compounders. The truth is, they could not be more different.

The Compounding Quality Act, passed in 2013, defined a new designation of compounding pharmacy, called a 503B Pharmacy. A 503B pharmacy is directly regulated by the FDA using current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) regulations. These cGMP standards are the same standards to which generic and brand-name medications are held. 503B pharmacies test every batch of medication for endotoxins, sterility, and potency. They can offer extended beyond-use dates because of the rigorous testing performed under cGMP.

There are also 503A pharmacies, which are regulated differently. How are the two different?

The FDA has designated 503A compounding pharmacies as those that compound according to prescriptions specific to particular patients and are required by state boards of pharmacy to comply with United States Pharmacopeia (USP) standards and other guidelines. These facilities are limited to dispensing only for home use and are not allowed to compound large batches.

Compared to 503A facilities, 503B compounding pharmacies are held to a higher regulatory standard. These facilities are required to maintain full compliance with current good manufacturing practices (cGMP). This means the products made by 503B compounders are subject to stricter scrutiny. They’re manufactured under tightly controlled conditions to promote safety.

Noom provides access to BOTH compounded and brand-name GLP-1 drugs. This gives our customers more options in getting the medication they need. It’s one of many advantages Noom has over the competition. For those who have great insurance and can find access to these hard-to-get brand-name meds, we offer a great brand-name medication option; but we don’t build our solutions for only the fortunate few. Our mission is to empower everyone, everywhere to live better longer.

When consumers choose our Noom GLP-1^Rx plan that includes compounded meds, we are utilizing compounded medications exactly as the FDA intended: Filling a gap in supply. We support those who can access brand-name medications through their insurance with care coordination services, while empowering everyone else to access appropriately prescribed medication. This means more Americans will get access to the right medications for them and be able to jumpstart their weight loss journeys and transform their lives.

Noom Medical Advisor Dr. Shawn Cole, Internal Medicine Physician at Munson Medical Center, said: 

“Noom GLP-1^Rx will offer compounded GLP-1 receptor agonist medications prepared in a reputable sterile compounding pharmacy partner that has been extensively vetted for quality that represents the Noom standard of care. Unfortunately, the compounding pharmacy heterogeneity in the market has created uncertainty amongst the medical community and patients alike. Our selected pharmacy partnership received the highest possible ratings during an independent third-party on-site quality inspection audit and produces GLP-1 medications that are both consistent and are prepared using formulations that yield predictable pharmacokinetic actions in the body.  In addition, Noom offers brand-name, FDA-approved obesity medications through health insurance or out-of-pocket coverage. However, the option of high-quality compounded semaglutide will foster scalable access for many more individuals who would derive benefits from this extremely promising medication class.”

How We Selected a Compounding Pharmacy

For Noom GLP-1^Rx, we chose a compounding pharmacy after a lengthy due diligence process. We wanted to partner with a facility that’s FDA regulated under section 503B. We wanted to offer customers the highest possible level of safety and reliability.

We conducted a thorough diligence process that included:

1. Assessing partners against diligence criteria
2. Conducting on-site visits with top pharmacy prospects
3. Performing product, technology and financial diligence
4. Hiring an independent pharmacy consultant for ongoing consultation
5. Bringing on an independent current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) pharmacist and chemist to conduct on-site compliance review

Pharmacies were removed from diligence based on accreditations, licenses, product quality, pricing, and industry feedback.

The provider we selected is a 503B outsourcing facility. The facility is federally regulated by the FDA, not just state regulated. After meeting with dozens of compounding pharmacies and performing thorough due diligence, we concluded: There is no better GLP-1 supplier in the market today.

Thanks to this partnership, our customers will be able to purchase high-quality compounded GLP-1 medications through Noom. We’ll pair these powerful medications with a powerful companion program to drive long-term, sustainable weight loss outcomes – and, critically, to provide a pathway off the medication for those who want it.

Our Commitment to Quality Control

A quality product begins with quality ingredients. Our compounding pharmacy partner manufactures its products in a 503B outsourcing facility using current Good Manufacturing Practices. The facility uses robotic aseptic fill machines, which involves filling sterile products into pre-sterilized containers to keep them free of microorganisms and pyrogens. The quality control process involves leveraging artificial intelligence and automated visual inspection, checking for active ingredients and contaminants, ensuring consistency across batches, and sterility testing to promote product safety, compliance, and quality assurance.

Upon passing quality control, the product in vials is labeled and packaged. Once labeled and packaged, the final product goes through a quality assurance review to make sure the product went through a predefined manufacturing process and thus meets specified acceptance criteria to ship out the product. The product is then shipped to specified dispensing pharmacies with a certificate of analysis. The certificate of analysis confirms the prespecified analysis of the batch that must conform to specifications – for example, assay, sterility results, endotoxin, and container content. The certificates of analysis are reviewed upon FDA inspection, as this is an essential part of the overall batch record.

Noom GLP-1^Rx: Weight Loss That Lasts, Guaranteed

The Noom program combines GLP-1 medications, if prescribed, with evidence-based behavioral and lifestyle interventions to support lasting physiologic change and sustained weight loss after medication. While some GLP-1 clinical trials show weight rebound after stopping medication, Noom strives to maintain weight loss post-medication through lifestyle intervention and, in certain cases, less expensive generic anti-obesity medications.

We’re so confident in this approach, we’re announcing the “Noom Taper-Off Guarantee.” A year of free Noom or substantial medication discounts to anyone who regains the weight within 18 months following a 12-month course of Noom GLP-1^Rx, including Noom’s taper protocol. 

Emerging evidence suggests that weight loss can be maintained off GLP-1 medication. See this post by Dr. Adonis Saremi for more information on how patients are able to maintain weight loss after tapering off GLP-1 medication.

Let’s be clear: 85% of people who start a GLP-1 stop by month 24. That’s six out of seven people! The world we live in is one in which persistence and adherence is always a challenge. The worst possible message to send to those who’ve struggled with their weight, given this fact on the ground, is that medication alone is their long-sought panacea. Powerful medication must be paired with a powerful companion. Failing to do so is a recipe for failure. Coaching, community, and psychology have only increased in importance with the dawning of this new era of medically assisted weight loss.

People in the real world simply don’t take these meds forever. This means for the vast majority of people, the meds alone don’t work in the long run. Reality demonstrates most people already find pathways off the med, but the end result for many is the worst one – weight regain. At Noom we are constructing the right pathway off the med for those who wish to take it. Healthy habits have never mattered more.

What’s more, with Noom’s award-winning behavior change program, we aim for our members to receive increased benefits at lower doses of GLP-1 medication. Studies suggest that 70% of the weight loss outcome can be achieved with 40% of the maximum dose. With Noom’s industry-leading companion app, we will strive to deliver even better outcomes, while providing a pathway to tapering for anyone who wants one. 

We’re committed to making GLP-1s more accessible and more affordable. The price of the brand-name meds are such that the lowest doses and the highest doses cost the same amount to the patient – despite having 10x more active ingredient in the highest dose. For compounded meds, on the other hand, the amount of active ingredient actually matters to the pricing, as one would expect in a competitive market. Noom’s ability to do more with less means we can pass savings on to our members as well as help reduce the risk of side effects for those succeeding with a lower dose, while increasing the persistence and adherence to the medication.

The reality is, no pill or injection will make someone eat more healthfully, or get more exercise. Behavior change, intentionality, mindset – these things have mattered throughout human history, and they continue to matter today. Powerful weight-loss meds need a powerful companion because people are not on these meds forever, and because losing muscle mass carries serious health consequences.

While people on GLP-1s do lose a lot of weight, 15-40% of the weight lost is actually lean muscle mass. See this post by Dr. Adonis Saremi for more information on the risks of losing muscle mass and developing sarcopenic obesity.

Noom’s program makes it easy to track protein intake and engage in accessible workouts and resistance training, so our members can keep the muscle and lose the fat. Our holistic approach ensures that users receive not only the medications they need but also the behavioral and lifestyle support essential for long-term success.

This is why clinical studies of GLP-1s say that medications alone are not enough. In fact, it says so right on the label — these medications are to be used as an adjunct to a nutrition and exercise program. To be clear, the medication is the adjunct. The nutrition and exercise program is even more critical. We built Noom’s GLP-1 Companion, now with Muscle Defense^TM, to be that program. 

Noom’s Addition of Medication Grounded in Psychological Principles 

“Noom found success in bringing cognitive behavioral therapy concepts to a large audience, changing millions of people’s mindset and relationship toward food,” said Pouran Faghri, Professor at the UCLA School of Public Health and Scientific Advisor to Noom. “Noom’s addition of medication to the program is grounded in psychological principles. “Millions of Americans struggle with weight loss, often trying numerous methods without success, which can lead to a decline in self-efficacy. This loss of confidence undermines their belief in their ability to manage their own motivation and behavior, creating a significant barrier to achieving lasting results.”

“Weight loss medication can be used as a “kickstart” to help individuals achieve initial weight loss, which can provide a psychological boost and enhance motivation. However, to sustain this progress and avoid reliance on medication, tapering off the drug while introducing Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) can be highly effective. CBT helps individuals develop self-regulation skills, improve self-efficacy, and address underlying behaviors and thought patterns associated with overeating. This combined approach supports long-term weight management by fostering healthier habits and coping strategies. This is what sets Noom’s approach to weight loss medication apart.”

The Meds Alone Don’t Work – The Right Pathway Off Forever Meds  

We’ve established that people in the real world don’t take these meds forever, with 6 out of 7 stopping the med by year 2, which means for most the meds alone don’t work, given the studies on weight regain post medication removal for people who have failed with dieting in the past. 

We’ve surveyed Noom members to try to understand the hesitation to forever meds. 

In a recent survey of 140 Noom users who were prescribed GLP-1 medication, we find as many as 3 in 4 are unwilling to be on these drugs for decades. 

With that in mind, we developed our program to support a taper off the meds for those who want it. With our tapering protocol, certain aspects of our GLP-1 Companion program adapt, while we also step the user down in dosage. Some users may well decide they need to restart on a medication; others may find a lower maintenance dose is required. 

Our doctors follow proprietary guidelines to personalize the dose to meet the needs of our members. We do not assume every member needs the highest dose forever to maintain their weight loss. Because our mission is not to sell more meds, we believe in personalized medicine, not in the highest dose forever for all.

How We Developed our Clinical Protocol

To ensure our program would be safe and effective, we developed a robust clinical protocol for Noom Med. Experienced telehealth and obesity physicians support access-maximizing asynchronous care pathways and evidence-based lab flows. In some programs, synchronous video visits are also available. Unlike many competitors, we are able to leverage multiple modalities to ensure patients receive timely, patient-centered, and effective treatment. That said, we believe in the benefits of appropriately used asynchronous care, which include:

• Accessibility: Patient wait times for care are reduced from days to hours, and patients can conveniently access a doctor via chat
• Reduced Cost: Highly efficient workflows reduce physician time on each consult
• Access to Treatment Plans: Patients can easily refer to the asynchronous chat log with their clinician to review the discussion
• Quality: Clinical supervisors can review transcripts to ensure clinician quality
• Patient and Clinician Experience: Administrative staff can be automatically alerted to and more easily resolve missing intake information and other administrative issues that often cause synchronous visits to be delayed, canceled, or rescheduled
• Privacy & De-stigmatization: Due to the stigma of obesity, patients may feel more comfortable discussing sensitive health issues through asynchronous communication, as it provides a layer of privacy

See this post by Dr. Adonis Saremi for more information on how Noom Med operates under a philosophy aligned with The Institute of Medicine’s (IOM) six aims framework by ensuring that healthcare delivery is safe, effective, patient-centered, timely, efficient, and equitable.

Our evidence-based lab requirements start with vetted intake and certification, which includes an identity check and a full-body photo. We plan to integrate with Health Information Exchanges to have access to recent labs and relevant medical records and support coordination with other providers. For many patients, a clinician may be able to write a low-dose initial prescription and order follow-up labs. This approach can reduce barriers to a patient beginning their weight loss journey while enabling access to clinical support and future changes to their prescription, should they need it.

In summary, our carefully designed protocols reflect our commitment to making sure the right people get the right medications at the right time.

Noom’s Critical Role in a Post-GLP-1 World

At Noom, we understand that health is about much more than medications; it’s about the lifestyle choices we make every day. While GLP-1s can be life-changing medications, the label on these drugs clearly states they are meant to be used as an adjunct to diet and exercise. We built Noom GLP-1^Rx  to ensure people get the full value from weight-loss medication, by giving them the support they need to sustain the weight loss outcomes that the medication can help to kickstart.

With the US facing an obesity crisis, and the shortage of GLP-1 medications expected to last for years, the need for innovative weight loss solutions has never been more urgent. 

Noom GLP-1^Rx  is our answer to this challenge. By integrating asynchronous telemedicine, expanded access to GLP-1 medications, and a comprehensive behavioral change companion app, Noom GLP-1^Rx  is designed to meet the multifaceted challenges of obesity care.

We’re proud to offer a comprehensive solution that combines high-quality compounded medications with a powerful program for healthy lifestyle change. We expect to deliver lasting outcomes with a lower dose of medications. We help people preserve muscle while they lose weight. We provide the program people need to help taper off the medications safely while maintaining weight loss, so they can live in better health.
We are thrilled to launch Noom GLP-1^Rx, our latest innovation, as we further our mission to empower everyone, everywhere to live better longer.

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* The FDA does not review any compounded medication for safety and efficacy.