Novo Advances Lawsuit Against Pharmacy’s Ozempic, Wegovy Copies

A federal judge is allowing Novo Nordisk A/S to proceed with its lawsuit alleging Axtell’s Rite-Value Pharmacy unlawfully markets and sells copycats of its blockbuster weight loss drug without the US Food and Drug Administration’s approval.

The drugmaker sufficiently proved that Axtell’s actions of selling compounded, or customized, semaglutide caused and continues to cause Novo to lose sales and customers, Judge Jeremy D. Kernodle for the US District Court for the Eastern District of Texas said in an order filed Wednesday.

The ruling allows Novo to advance its challenge after the pharmacy moved to dismiss it for lack of standing, ...