The telehealth company Sequence, which is responsible for producing Ozempic, the weight loss drug praised by celebrities, and WeightWatchers have come to an agreement worth a total of $106 million.
The company WeightWatchers, which is officially known as WW International Inc., is in the process of purchasing the digital health company Sequence. This heralds the beginning of the weight loss company’s expansion into the lucrative market of diabetes and obesity medications such as Ozempic and Wegovy.
This takeover comes as a result of TikTok influencers praising diabetes medications like Ozempic as wonder drugs for weight loss, despite warnings from some medical professionals.
However, the non-prescription use of these diabetes drugs has come under fire from health professionals, who have warned users of the side effects of using diabetes drugs for weight loss. One of these side effects is called “Olympic face,” and it can occur when people use diabetes drugs to lose weight.
So, why is WeightWatchers interested in purchasing a company that is responsible for producing a drug that aids in weight loss, and what do they intend to do with the company once they have it?
Telehealth Company Sequence
In the year 2021, Sequence, whose parent company is officially known as Weekend Health Inc., was established. The company provides a subscription service that enables patients to have telehealth consultations with licensed medical professionals who are able to write prescriptions for medications like Ozempic and Wegovy.
As of February 2023, Sequence boasts an impressive membership of almost 24,000 people. Members of Sequence pay a monthly fee of $99 to have access to the company’s services, which include telehealth appointments with licensed medical professionals who are able to prescribe weight loss medications like Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and others.
The program offered by Sequence consists of both in-person and remote consultations with registered dietitians and certified personal trainers. The first thing that prospective subscribers do is take a quiz that asks them questions about their height, weight, and various health conditions.
WeightWatchers News
WeightWatchers has been promising for a long time to give their customers a service like Sequence’s, and now they can.
Sima Sistani, the CEO of WeightWatchers, said, “This is the most important new thing in our industry right now. There’s a lot of hope for how these medicines will affect health.”
People worry that drugs like Ozempic will be used as just another way to lose weight quickly without making any other changes to health and lifestyle.
Recently, celebrities have been talking about these drugs online, and their popularity has gone through the roof. As a result, there are now shortages of these medicines.
But Ms. Sistani, who has been CEO since 2022, said that there are also worries that people who take these drugs need help changing their diet and getting more exercise.