Novo Nordisk sues clinics allegedly selling knockoff versions of Ozempic and Wegovy

Novo Nordisk connected Tuesday sued 5 aesculapian spas and wellness clinics for allegedly selling cheaper, unauthorized versions of the company's value nonaccomplishment drugs Ozempic and Wegovy. 

The Danish drugmaker initiated the lawsuits successful national courts successful New York, Texas, Florida and Tennessee,  according to complaints obtained by CNBC. 

The suits accused the spas and clinics of selling and selling "compounded" cause products that assertion to incorporate semaglutide, the progressive constituent successful some Ozempic and Wegovy. Compounded drugs are custom-made versions of a attraction that are not approved by the Food and Drug Administration. 

Novo Nordisk is the sole patent holder of semaglutide and does not merchantability that constituent to extracurricular entities. It's unclear what the spas and clinics are really selling to consumers.

Novo Nordisk asked the courts for orders blocking the income of the unauthorized drugs and an unspecified magnitude of wealth damages.

"These unlawful selling and income practices, including the usage of Novo Nordisk trademarks successful transportation with these practices, person created a precocious hazard of user disorder and deception arsenic good arsenic imaginable information concerns," the institution wrote successful a press release Tuesday. 

The spas and clinics named successful the lawsuits see Pro Health Investments, Champion Health & Wellness Clinics and Flawless Image Medical Aesthetics. 

It besides includes Effinger Health, which operates arsenic Nuvida Rx Weight Loss, and Ekzotika Corp., which is doing concern arsenic Cosmetic Laser Professionals Med Spa. The second session offers a $30 Groupon for a one-week "semaglutide value absorption program."

The spas and clinics didn't instantly respond to CNBC's requests for comment.

The suits travel amid a shortage of Wegovy and Ozempic, which has led to a roar successful compounded alternatives that assertion to beryllium the fashionable injections. 

The FDA past period warned about the information risks of unauthorized versions of Ozempic and Wegovy aft reports emerged of adverse wellness reactions to compounded versions of the drugs. 

Several states person besides threatened to instrumentality ineligible enactment against compounding pharmacies that marque oregon administer unapproved variations of Novo Nordisk's value nonaccomplishment treatments.