WeightWatchers (WW) is trying to save its ailing business by betting on a market that threatens its very existence. The weight-loss company, previously championed by the likes of Oprah Winfrey, saw its stock spike this week after announcing that it will make copycats of Novo Nordisk's (NVO) Ozempic and Wegovy weight-loss drugs.

WeightWatchers said it will sell compounded versions of semaglutide — the key ingredient in Novo Nordisk's Ozempic and Wegovy.

High demand has created a market for compounded versions of the drug best known as Ozemic or Wegovy, but doctors and the FDA say those versions come with risks.

WW International (NASDAQ:WW), more commonly known as WeightWatchers, will now offer compounded semaglutide to its WeightWatchers Clinic members, expanding the accessibility of popular weight loss medications to its members at a more affordable price.

Shares of WeightWatchers (WW) are climbing after the company announced a compounded GLP-1 medication starting at $129 as it seeks to make the weight-management solution "accessible and affordable." Catalysts Hosts Seana Smith and Madison Mills report more on the story and how it can compete with GLP-1 weight-loss drugs like Novo Nordisk's (NVO) Ozempic and Eli Lilly's (LLY) Mounjaro.

WeightWatchers (WW) announced Tuesday that it is now offering off-brand weight loss drugs for one of the cheapest prices in the industry.

WeightWatchers will begin selling compounded alternatives to certain weight-loss drugs that are experiencing shortages. Why it matters: Federal law allows companies to sell compounded versions of drugs that are on the FDA's shortages list — which has led to a surge of copycats to the newly popular class of GLP-1 injections.