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Compounded GLP-1s For Obesity: Is The Genie Out Of The Bottle?

 
• By Cathy Kelly

Patient demand for compounded versions of FDA-approved obesity drugs is unlikely to dissipate, even if semaglutide’s “shortage” status is resolved. The issue likely will continue to be a high-profile concern for the brand industry.

More than two years of brand product shortages have turbocharged a cottage industry. (Shutterstock)
Key Takeaways
  • The business of GLP-1 drug compounding has progressed to a point that will be hard to reverse.
  • Patient demand will continue, even if semaglutide is removed from the US FDA's drug shortage list and compounding is curtailed.
  • A high-profile Super Bowl ad may increase momentum to align advertising rules for compounded products with those for FDA-approved prescription drugs.

Patient demand for compounded GLP-1 agonists for obesity may have reached a point that will be difficult to reverse, even if the US Food and Drug Administration removes semaglutide from the drug shortage

Sales of compounded semaglutide products through a growing number of telehealth providers now are cutting into revenues for Novo Nordisk’s FDA-approved versions,

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