WeightWatchers Jumps on Offer to Sell Low-Cost Wegovy Copy

WW International Inc. shares rose after the diet company said it would begin offering a copycat version of weight-loss drugs that costs far less than Novo Nordisk A/S’s Ozempic and Wegovy.

The move comes just a week after WW, also known as WeightWatchers, announced the departure of Chief Executive Officer Sima Sistani after two and a half years leading the diet company. Under Sistani, the company had opposed sales of compounded versions of popular weight-loss medications from Eli Lilly & Co. and Novo that other telehealth firms embraced.

The shares rose as much as 20% when markets opened Tuesday ...