STAT+: Telemedicine company touted by Novo Nordisk stressed profits over patient safety, ex-workers say

STAT PlusA STAT Investigation Telemedicine company touted by Novo Nordisk stressed profits over patient safety, ex-workers say LifeMD is part of a cottage industry seeking to capitalize on weight loss drugs By Elaine ChenJuly 20, 2026 Chen, a national biotech reporter, is the co-author of The Readout, a newsletter about the business, science, and politics of biotech. Elaine Chen[email protected]Elaine’s stories explore the boom in new obesity treatments, new drug payment models, the ways companies are affected by FDA changes, and the emerging psychedelics drug sector. She co-writes The Readout newsletter, and co-hosts STAT’s weekly biotech podcast, The Readout Loud. You can reach Elaine on Signal at elaineywchen.70. Manage alerts for this article Email this article Share this article Highlights LifeMD, a telehealth company promoted by GLP-1 drugmaker Novo Nordisk, has urged its clinicians to see more patients and mete out prescriptions more rapidly, while providing little screening and follow-up, alleged five former employees in interviews and two lawsuits filed by former top leaders. The company, which strenuously denies the allegations, is part of a sprawling, loosely regulated industry of GLP-1 telehealth companies that experts say has been boosted by Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly. As competition between telehealth companies grows and more powerful obesity drugs come to the market, experts fear lax clinical oversight means some patients could be at greater risk of developing potentially serious side effects. Novo Nordisk, maker of Ozempic and Wegovy, lists the telehealth company LifeMD on its website as a provider that offers “legitimate medicine sourcing and patient support” for people seeking GLP-1 drugs. But some former employees describe LifeMD differently, as a company that has sought to maximize the volume of prescriptions it doles out at the expense of patient safety. Former workers told STAT that providers were pressed to expedite their work to a pace that was not clinically responsible, with two of them saying providers at times were expected to review the cases of 25 people per hour based only on electronic forms the patients filled out — the equivalent of spending about two minutes on each case.Advertisement The company also discouraged providers from asking what they felt were medically relevant questions to patients, so that they don’t “delay care,” former employees said. STAT+ Exclusive Story Already have an account? Log in This article is exclusive to STAT+ subscribers Unlock this article — plus in-depth analysis, newsletters, premium events, and news alerts. Already have an account? Log in Monthly $39 Totals $468 per year $39/month Get Started Totals $468 per year Starter $30 for 3 months, then $399/year $30 for 3 months Get Started Then $399/year Annual $399 Save 15% $399/year Get Started Save 15% 11+ Users Custom Savings start at 25%! Request A Quote Request A Quote Savings start at 25%! 2-10 Users $300 Annually per user $300/year Get Started $300 Annually per user View All Plans To read the rest of this story subscribe to STAT+. Subscribe Log In Eli Lilly, Novo Nordisk, Obesity, Pharmaceuticals, STAT+, Telehealth, weight loss Submit a correction requestReprints Elaine Chen National Biotech Reporter Elaine’s stories explore the boom in new obesity treatments, new drug payment models, the ways companies are affected by FDA changes, and the emerging psychedelics drug sector. She co-writes The Readout newsletter, and co-hosts STAT’s weekly biotech podcast, The Readout Loud. You can reach Elaine on Signal at elaineywchen.70. Recommended First Opinion July 20, 2026 It’s time to treat pandemics as threats to national security Pharmalot July 20, 2026 STAT Plus: State audit of Medicaid records points to methods used by PBMs to obscure drug costs Advertisement First Opinion July 20, 2026 My husband’s suicide shows there’s something very wrong with the U.S. insurance industry First Opinion July 18, 2026 Beware the unintended consequences of testosterone screening for military servicemembers Letters to the editor July 18, 2026 STAT readers on the value of primary care, obesity as a disease, and more Subscriber Picks