Hims & Hers Health, Inc.
has officially entered the Canadian market with its
recent acquisition
of Livewell, an
online telehealth platform
focused on
weight loss
.
The United States telehealth upstart said the move is expected to help
accelerate its platform’s official launch
in Canada next year.
Hims & Hers’ planned launch is timed to align with the first anticipated availability of
generic semaglutide
anywhere in the world. The drug, popularized by the
brand Ozempic
and used in the treatment of type 2 diabetes, has been widely prescribed as an anti-obesity medication.
“Our expansion into Canada is a direct response to critical public health needs, particularly around the obesity crisis,” Andrew Dudum, co-founder and chief executive of Hims & Hers, said in a press release.
The company said it is establishing a local team to lead the Canadian operations. Austin Kouri, a former DoorDash executive, will lead as the general manager of Hims & Hers Canada, working closely with advisor and new chief medical officer in Canada, obesity physician Dr. Sandy Van.
“Bringing Hims & Hers to Canada is a powerful investment in the health and wellness of Canadians,” said Kouri.
Livewell co-founders Antoine Arbour and Patrick Duffy will also be joining Hims & Hers’ Canadian leadership team.
“Joining Hims & Hers represents a vital step forward, allowing us to be a part of the global movement to democratize access to essential care. By combining our expertise, we can begin building the foundation to reach millions of Canadians nationwide,” said Arbour.
Hims and Hers first announced its expansion into Canada in early July, taking the opportunity as Danish pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk is set to lose Canadian patent protection on its popular semaglutide-based drugs, Ozempic and Wegovy, after apparently failing to pay a small fee to maintain the patent.
According to the Canadian Patent Database, Novo Nordisk was first issued the patent in 2013 but it is now “expired and beyond the period of reversal.” A report by Science said the
pharma company
last paid the annual maintenance fee in 2018, which at the time was $250.
Meanwhile, it will hold the patent in the United States until at least 2032.
At the moment, there is still no generic version of semaglutide on the market that has been approved by Health Canada.
In the press release, Hims and Hers said almost two-thirds of adults in Canada are overweight or living with obesity. Branded semaglutide with no surrounding clinical support currently costs more than $200 a month in Canada.
It said in July that the price for generic semaglutide is expected to be at a significant discount to the branded versions, and will lower over time.
• Email: dpaglinawan@postmedia.com
Hims and Hers acquires Livewell ahead of generic Ozempic launch in Canada
2025-12-05 16:08:29
