Brandon Burkholder

At the core of $hims is a simple yet powerful idea: we use precision medicine to personalize the delivery of existing, clinically studied medications. We are not bypassing the regulatory process or creating new drugs. We focus on delivering better care through personalization. Period. Precision medicine is about using the right tools for the right patient at the right time – and it gets better with strategic innovation. Our holistic approach means increasingly integrating lab work, provider engagement, patient choice, and clinical data ensure that personalization is thoughtful, safe, evidence-based, and patient-centric. We believe this approach will ultimately drive better clinical outcomes. We’re committed to integrity and transparency. We won’t claim improved efficacy until the data substantiates it. And we show our quality and safety process. We take a logical approach that lets patients and providers draw their own conclusions because we know that patients, not pharmaceutical profits, should drive our health care system. Obviously, critical to personalization is the need to compound medication. Under our current health system, we do this in two very specific circumstances: 1. Drug shortages: We ensure patients have continued access at affordable prices. While Big Pharma charges in the thousands, we fill the gap by giving people access at prices that can be in the hundreds. 2. Clinical necessity: We enable personalized treatment when commercially available options don’t meet individual patient needs, whether in dosages, administration, or the need for additional ingredients. We do this because it is the right thing to do for the patient. We don’t compound every medication, even if we believe it would help our profits. For example, we never chose to compound tirzepatide, even though it could have been profitable. Why not? In part, its wide range of commercially available dosages support a lower side effect profile that reduces the likelihood an individual will require alteration to meet their needs. We do compound semaglutide. Now that the FDA has determined the drug shortage for semaglutide has been resolved, we will continue to offer access to personalized treatments as allowed by law to meet patient needs. We’re also closely monitoring potential future shortages, as Novo Nordisk stated two weeks ago that it would continue to have “capacity limitations” and “expected continued periodic supply constraints and related drug shortage notifications.” We know that demand remains high, despite the $1200+ Novo Nordisk charges in the US compared to the $135-$300 it charges in its native Denmark. Since we have spoken out on the need to fix today’s “Stuck & Sick” health care system, we’ve seen Big Pharma react by questioning the need for affordable compounded options or purposely scaring regular Americans by making broad strokes about the “safety” of compounded medicines. Our commitment is clear: patient safety and regulatory integrity, and using precision, personalization, and necessity—not convenience—to align with the highest standards of care. Our goal: empower patients, empower providers, provide comprehensive choices tailored to the individual, and do it the right way. Precision medicine is about making existing treatments work better for individuals. We’re proud to stand for thoughtful innovation, not shortcuts. Holistic care means incorporating more than medicine into lifestyle changes that lead to better outcomes. At the end of the day, better care is comprehensive – and personal.