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Telehealth company Hims & Hers Health is fighting back after the drug industry’s main lobbying group called out its first Super Bowl ad as “misleading” and in potential violation of marketing rules. The ad is a one-minute spot set to Childish Gambino’s “This is America,” which admonishes the U.S.’s “broken” weight-loss business and instead offers up its “affordable, doctor-trusted” copycat weight-loss drugs. The lobbying group, Pharmaceutical Research and Manufacturers of America, said Thursday the ad was “a clear violation” of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act and “misrepresents the safety and efficacy of their knockoff GLP-1 medicines.” Hims & Hers, which includes a brief disclaimer in the ad that the compounded drugs aren’t FDA approved, said the pushback from the industry meant its ad had clearly struck a chord. “We’ve called out the system and now the system is asking that our ad get taken down,” a spokesperson says. “This is a blatant attempt to shut down an ad that calls them out.” The telehealth firm operates on the idea that consumers who can’t afford, or balk at, the hundreds or thousands of dollars required to get weight-loss medications such as Wegovy, will pay Hims & Hers for less expensive, compounded versions of those medications. The compounded versions also serve as a way to increase access to weight-loss drugs in a time of steep shortages. To be sure, compounded drugs aren’t the same as generic drugs. They’re not approved by the FDA, so compounded drugs don’t require the same rigorous testing that is required for brand-name drugmakers. They’re often criticized due to their risk for potential contamination. But companies that sell compounded medicines say they offer high-quality drugs. Hims & Hers said that its “commercial aims to highlight why the U.S. is in an obesity crisis, while showcasing that Hims & Hers is committed to being part of easing the strain the weight-loss drug shortage is placing on the millions of Americans who have obesity and are looking for help.” Hims & Hers stock jumped more than 11% on Friday following the pushback. As of Friday afternoon, shares were up nearly 8%. The company declined to comment on the bump, as it’s in a quiet period ahead of releasing its earnings report.
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E-Commerce
The cost of childcare has been climbing precipitously for the past decade, with some families spending about a quarter of their yearly incomeor moreon those expenses. As federal funding and pandemic-era relief has disappeared, many providers have struggled to keep their doors open, making it even more difficult for families to find affordable care. By federal standards, families should only be spending 7% of their annual income on childcare. A new analysis by the National Women’s Law Center (NWLC) finds that as of 2025, the average family would need to earn at least $180,000 annually to comfortably afford the national cost of infant care, which is around $12,655. (Childcare costs tend to be steepest for infants and children under the age of two.) In states with a higher cost of living, such as California and New York, the annual income required to ensure that childcare is affordable is upwards of $250,000. The NWLC analysis indicates that, based on the affordability standard set by the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), childcare is out of reach for families in every state across the U.S. In South Dakota, a state where the cost of care is below the average, a family’s annual income would still need to be nearly $98,000; on the other end is a region such as Washington, D.C., where families need to earn $330,000 annually to easily afford the cost of care for one child. Childcare advocates have long argued that it’s impossible to address the affordability crisis without public investment and additional federal funding, given the high labor costs associated with this care. Many centers already operate with tight margins, as evidenced by the challenges some providers are currently facing after President Trump’s proposed funding freezewhich has since been rescindedderailed payments for those in the Head Start program, which subsidizes childcare costs for low-income families. Some providers have reportedly been unable to pay staff and were forced to temporarily close their doors, and according to the National Head Start Association, nearly 20,000 children and families could be impacted if those programs continue to be unable to access funding. Given Trump’s track record, it’s also possible that childcare providers and parents may have to contend with further cuts to federal programs that help support low-income familiesrather than the additional funding that the childcare industry sorely needs.
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E-Commerce
LG Electronics USA is recalling half a million electric ranges that have been involved in at least 28 fires, resulting in numerous injuries and a few pet deaths. But instead of issuing a refund or replacement, the home appliance maker is sending customers warning label stickers. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) posted an alert on Thursday that it received at least 86 reports of “unintentional activation of the front-mounted knobs leading to “at least five fires,” which “caused extensive property damage totaling over $340,000” as well as burns and eight minor injuries, with three fires resulting in pet deaths. According to the announcement, customers and their pets can accidentally activate the front-mounted knobs on LG Slide-In Ranges and Freestanding Ranges, potentially causing fires. In response, LG is encouraging consumers to use the ranges’ Lock Out or Control Lock features, which “[lock] the cooktop . . . from being turned on even when the knob is turned, reducing the risk of accidental activation,” according to a statement from the company. “Id like to clarify that this is not the usual kind of CPSC ‘recall’ because the affected products have a proven safety feature built in,” John Taylor, senior vice president of LG Electronics USA Inc., told Fast Company in a statement. Consumers can find detailed instructions for using the Lock Out/Control Lock features at LGcares.com. Where were the ranges sold? According to the CPSC, the ranges were sold from 2015 to January 2025, for between $1,400 and $2,650, at the following stores: Best Buy Costco The Home Depot Lowes In addition, the recall notes the ranges were sold at other appliance stores nationwide and online at LG.com. The model and serial numbers of the affected products are listed here. LG told Fast Company on Friday that for 10 of the 11 models listed, only those units manufactured through 2023, as indicated by serial number, are affected. All units of model LDE4413 are affected. (The serial numbers can be found inside the oven door or storage drawer located on the bottom of the oven.) What should I do if I think my range was recalled? Consumers should contact LG through the company’s website for a free warning label and placement instructions, and use the Lock Out/Control Lock function on the range control panel to disable heating elements when the range is not in use. Here’s LG’s instructional video on how to use the Lock Out/Control Lock features. Consumers should also keep children and pets away from the knobs and not leave objects on the range when it’s not in use. And before leaving the house or going to bed, check the range knobs to ensure they are off.
Category:
E-Commerce
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