Nov 13 (Reuters) - Novo Nordisk (NOVOb.CO), opens new tab and Eli Lilly (LLY.N), opens new tab denied weight-loss drug partnership with Mangoceuticals (MGRX.O), opens new tab on Thursday, hours after the telehealth provider disclosed it had arrangements with the two drugmakers.
Shares of Mangoceuticals had surged nearly 30% in premarket trading after a press statement from earlier on Thursday said it had partnered with Novo and Lilly to offer blockbuster weight-loss drugs to self-paying patients. Shares closed at $1.19 following the companies' response, 32.4% below their $1.76 closing price on Wednesday.
Sign up here.
Mangoceuticals later clarified in a separate statement that while it "has no direct contractual relationship with Eli Lilly or Novo Nordisk," it is now directly offering their GLP-1 weight-loss drugs to customers through its MangoRx Direct and Peaches RX Direct platforms.
Spokespersons for both Lilly and Novo said in emails to Reuters that they had no special arrangements with the company.
On Thursday morning, Mangoceuticals said in a statement to Reuters the lawsuit was settled earlier this year for a nominal amount.
In response, a Lilly spokesperson said the company "sued Mangoceuticals last year, and Mango agreed to the court-ordered injunction as part of a settlement."
Lilly was the first to sell Zepbound directly to U.S. consumers via its LillyDirect platform, followed by Novo's NovoCare for Wegovy. The U.S. government's TrumpRx.gov site, launching in early 2026, will also direct consumers to these drugs at reduced prices under a new deal.
Both drugmakers have partnered with multiple telehealth platforms to sell their weight-loss drugs.
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab