Wednesday, December 10, 2025
Hims & Hers brings weight loss program to the U.K.
Expansion Debuts Hers, Unlocking Personalised Care for British Women
Hims & Hers is deepening its commitment to the UK by bringing access to its comprehensive Weight Loss Programme to customers. This expansion includes the official introduction of the Hers platform, helping eligible women across the UK receive access to this holistic weight management care.
Now for the first time through Hers, women in the UK deemed clinically suitable can access a new standard of weight management care that blends convenience with personalised support at every step of their journey.
Sixty four percent of UK adults are overweight or living with obesity, yet access to GLP-1 treatment plans remains challenging on the NHS, and via the private sector due to surging demand and escalating costs. Removing barriers to care, the Hims & Hers digital platform provides eligible British women and men seamless access to its comprehensive, doctor-designed Weight Loss Programme.
Following a thorough, and clinically robust intake assessment conducted by GMC-registered doctors, eligible customers now have access to transparent pricing and personalised weight management programmes, which may include branded GLP-1 options, such as Mounjaro or Wegovy, and the oral non-prescription treatment option, Orlos. Licensed clinicians assess each individual’s medical history, suitability, and contraindications to guide appropriate treatment decisions. Critically, all customers have access to comprehensive support, including 24/7 care team access and content to help improve nutrition, movement, and sleep-based habits along their weight loss journey. This holistic programme is designed to support long-term health, helping customers manage their weight and adopt sustainable lifestyle habits.
Now for the first time through Hers, women in the UK deemed clinically suitable can access a new standard of weight management care that blends convenience with personalised support at every step of their journey. Hers’ customers receive ongoing clinician support through follow-ups and asynchronous messaging, along with treatment adjustments when necessary, keeping care seamless, conversational, and customer-centered. Hers is more than just a telehealth platform; it's where clinical experience meets thoughtful care, resetting women’s expectations and standards for comprehensive and convenient care.
"The launch of Hims & Hers’ comprehensive Weight Loss Programme and the vital introduction of the Hers platform, our dedicated platform for women, represents a significant deepening of our commitment to the UK,” said David Meinertz, GM International of Hims & Hers. “Our doctor-designed treatment plans will complement the NHS by providing accessible, evidence-based, and sustainable long-term weight management care to those who need it, discreetly and conveniently. Our proven model is grounded in clinical excellence, oversight, and convenience, ensuring that every customer receives the thoughtful, thorough, and high-quality care they deserve."
"Obesity is a global epidemic, and the scale of the challenge in the UK requires a comprehensive solution that prioritises long-term health over quick fixes," said Craig Primack MD, Head of Weight Loss at Hims & Hers. "Bringing our trusted, comprehensive approach to the UK will help people lead fuller and healthier lives. And with the launch of the Hers platform, we are ensuring women have access to the dedicated, personalised care they need. Pairing clinically-proven treatments like GLP-1s with holistic support across nutrition and exercise helps make sustainable weight management achievable for the millions battling obesity today."
Launching its Weight Loss Programme marks the company’s continued progress in its mission to make personalised care accessible to millions of people across the UK. Hims & Hers plans to continue to expand into more offerings as demand for access to personalised care continues to grow.
Antibiotic is first approval in FDA national priority scheme
The FDA has lost no time in approving the first drug under its recently launched Commissioner's National Priority Voucher (CNPV) programme, clearing an antibiotic manufactured in the US.
The fast track – which allows medicines to be reviewed in as little as one to two months rather than the usual 10-12 months – was introduced earlier this year with the aim of bringing important new therapies to patients more quickly and plugging gaps in the domestic supply of essential medicines.
The first CNPV approval falls into the latter category, and is for a US-manufactured version of the widely used antibiotic Augmentin XR (amoxicillin-clavulanate potassium) that was among the first candidates that entered into the programme.
An initial batch of nine medicines was announced in October, and six more were added last month, including GLP-1 agonist-based weight loss medicines from Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk.
"Over the last few decades, America lost control of supply chains for key medicines we depend on. That chapter is over – we're entering a new era of manufacturing here at home," said FDA Commissioner Marty Makary.
According to the FDA, there have been seven shortage reports for amoxicillin and two for Augmentin XR in recent years, which have resulted from global supply chain vulnerabilities for active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), many of which – particularly for generic medicines – are not manufactured domestically in the US.
"These shortages have resulted in significant clinical consequences, including treatment delays and increased reliance on broader-spectrum antibiotics when preferred first-line therapies become unavailable," said the agency.
The CNPV system has already proved controversial since it was announced, with concerns raised (PDF) that political appointees rather than career regulators are carrying out the reviews and have been selected for political reasons – for example, as a quid pro quo for pricing deals or investments in domestic manufacturing.
The former head of the FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research (CDER), 25-year FDA veteran Richard Pazdur, reportedly clashed with Makary over the legality of the CNPV system before announcing his retirement just weeks into the job. Meanwhile, George Tidmarsh – Pazdur's equally short-tenured predecessor – has also claimed he was ousted after questioning the scheme.
Makary has previously said the CNPV programme will bring "the agility of frontline medical decision-making to our regulatory processes" and insisted that the FDA's "rigorous standards for safety, efficacy, and quality" will be maintained.
https://pharmaphorum.com/news/antibiotic-first-approval-fda-national-priority-scheme
Germany Plans Largest Single-Year Investment In Arms, Equipment In Its History
At a moment the Russia-Ukraine war grinds on, and as Trump-led efforts to find peace have been frustrated - largely as Zelensky and his backers have balked at agreeing to any territorial compromise as the bases of a deal - Germany is busy transforming its military with an aim to boost Bundeswehr numbers and meet NATO targets.
That news dominated headlines last week, but added to this Bloomberg is newly reporting Tuesday that the troop expansion will coincide with a major tech and armament expansion, given lawmakers are expected to approve a record €52 billion (about $61 billion) in military procurement contracts next week.
This will mark the largest single-year investment in defense equipment in the country's history, underscoring Berlin's renewed push to modernize its armed forces amid the growing European standoff with Russia.
As for 2025 numbers, prior approvals brought total defense commitments for this year to above €33 billion. So next year's could more than double, based on the new projected figures.
Much of the money is expected to flow to German defense manufacturers, including major firms like Heckler & Koch and Rheinmetall, both long well-known known for their advanced military equipment.
The new procurement package covers 73 major projects aimed at upgrading the Bundeswehr. Examples of key items slated for purchase include:
F-35 fighter jets: Advanced stealth aircraft essential for modern air operations.
Joint Strike Missiles: Precision munitions that significantly enhance Germany’s strike capabilities.
Aladin reconnaissance drones: Unmanned systems that will improve real-time surveillance and intelligence collection.
G95 assault rifles: Modern small arms intended to give soldiers more reliable, effective weaponry.
Air defense systems: Critical assets to safeguard German airspace from potential threats.
Armored vehicles: New platforms that boost troop protection and mobility in combat.
Additional small arms: A range of weapons to better equip personnel for varied missions.
German defense minister Boris Pistorius recently told Germans there was "no cause for concern...no reason for fear...The more capable of deterrence and defense our armed forces are, through armament through training and through personnel, the less likely it is that we will become a party to a conflict at all."
Pistorius and Chancellor Friedrich Merz have set a goal for having Europe's largest military and to be "war-ready" by 2029. Doing its part to promote German militarism, the Wall Street Journal's cited unnamed "military analysts [who] think Russia may be able and willing to attack NATO" by that year.