TTA’s Summer #1: Hims buys Zava for EU/UK, Omada’s IPO, Wojcicki tries harder to buy 23andMe, UnitedHealth’s miseries explored, Centene sued on AZ network, more!

June 5, 2025 | by

5 June 2025

Warmer temps, warmer news, a little earlier this week. We lead with Hims & Hers buying with their free cash UK/Europe’s similar Zava. Omada rumored to go public on Friday or shortly thereafter, while Anne Wojcicki takes a last-ditch run at buying her bankrupt company with an unnamed backer. UnitedHealth’s miseries remain very much in the news, with other opinions at variance, but all agree it’s a deep hole they’ve dug. Nonetheless, UHG shareholders seem to have some confidence in their new CEO, but aren’t yet giving him combat pay. And a lawsuit against Centene in AZ uncovers inaccurate provider ‘ghost networks’.

This just in: Hims acquires Zava, adds 1.3 million European/UK telemed customers (A way to grow and defy the bears?)

Need to knows: Omada’s $158M IPO at flat valuation, AZ lawsuit on Centene plan’s ‘ghost network’ fatality, UHG shareholders OK reduced package for CEO Hemsley, new ASTP/HIT-ONC leader, NJ’s Cooper Health patient data breach, Net Health buys Limber Health (Omada listing up on Friday, possibly)

Anne Wojcicki asks 23andMe bankruptcy court to reopen bidding on 12 June with fresh offer (Why, Anne, why??)

Two other views on UnitedHealth Group’s annus horribilis, for your consideration (Going inside the black box)

From last week: Our big article this week is your Editor’s think-piece on breaking up UnitedHealth Group in order to save it–and healthcare. We also look at post-GLP-1 weight gain–and what it means for providers, in-person and telehealth, ‘soft’ robotics out of Scotland, NZ’s telehealth war with GPs, and what’s doing at companies like Midi Health, AssistIQ, Ambience, Auxira, and Yosi Health. And plenty of weekend reading and viewing!

Weekend reading/viewing (for me too): Rural telehealth blackouts and value-based care’s ‘utopia’ (Set aside the time)

Short takes: Midi Health’s longevity care for women covered by (some) insurance, NZ government 24/7 telehealth scored by GPs, Auxira tele-cardiology follow-up launches (Two disappointments that look like advances)

News roundup: GLP-1 weight regain real, soft robots walk off 3D printer, Ambience’s AI coding beats doctors by 27%, Get a Second Opinion debuts, $11.5M for AssistIQ (Reality bites GLP-1s and a soft robot wee bairn)

Job Posting: Yosi Health seeks Demand Generation Manager and Manager, Data Analytics & Reporting

Should free-falling UnitedHealth Group be broken up? Or break itself up to survive, before it becomes another GE? (updated) (Not a rant, more a ‘get going’ to avoid disaster!)

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Telehealth & Telecare Aware – covering news on latest developments in telecare, telehealth and eHealth, worldwide.

This just in: Hims acquires Zava, adds 1.3 million European/UK telemed customers

June 4, 2025 | by

Hims & Hers expands to Ireland, France, and Germany, and adds to UK. Announced yesterday, the ambitious strategic acquisition of Zava, a similar online direct to consumer provider of telemedicine remedies for weight loss, ED, asthma, STI testing, and birth control (varying by country), will add over 50%, or 1.3 million customers, to Hims’ US base of 2.4 million. Acquisition costs or staff transitions were not disclosed. It is an all-cash deal financed off their existing balance sheet. It is expected to close, subject to the usual approvals, in the second half of 2025. 

Hims stock peaked on the news yesterday to above $62/share and since has settled down to its previous $52-53 range. They remain the only unqualified SPAC success in healthcare.

Zava has operated in Europe since 2011, preceding Hims by six years. It is a private company, corporately Health Bridge Limited, registered with Companies House in London, and the UK company was formerly known as DrEd. One of their partners is Asda supermarkets in the UK. Their CEO and co-founder David Meinertz lives in Hamburg.

Hims already has a UK presence due to its acquisition of Honest Health in 2021. From the release, apparently the Zava name will transition to Hims & Hers at some point and be accretive to earnings in 2026. This expansion will include access to British, German, and French healthcare providers in local languages. Another positive factor is that pharmaceuticals are generally less expensive in Europe than in the US.

This Editor wonders if an English-language brand name will transition easily to France and Germany, versus the ‘neutral’ Zava. Hims also states that they aren’t through with their international expansion, so their name will continue to be a concern. Developing  CNBC, Fast Company

Some cautions are apparently coming from Wall Street. Reportedly, investor analysts have been consistently shorting the stock on NYSE for months. Both Bank of America and Citi are bearish, with BoA tagging it as an ‘underperform’ with a $28/share target and Citi with $30. (Disclaimer–this is not investment advice). InvestorsObserver