Home / Health / Compounded Ozempic Surge Continues Post-Shortage
Compounded Ozempic Surge Continues Post-Shortage
21 Jul
Summary
- Compounded weight-loss drugs still widely available despite shortage end.
- Some compounding pharmacies lack licenses or face disciplinary actions.
- Market size and regulatory oversight of compounded drugs remain concerns.
Compounded versions of semaglutide and tirzepatide, commonly known as Ozempic and Zepbound, remain readily available in the United States, over a year after federal regulators announced the end of drug shortages. A recent investigation, conducted through a secret shopper program across Oklahoma and West Virginia, identified many clinics and medical spas continuing to offer these compounded drugs. This market has shown remarkable resilience, persisting even after the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) had declared shortages resolved by May 2025 and signaled a return to stricter enforcement against compounded copies of drugs not in short supply.
Concerns have been raised regarding the quality and safety of these compounded medications. Researchers found that a significant number of compounding pharmacies supplying these clinics either lacked the required licenses for sterile compounding or had a history of disciplinary actions related to such practices. Sterile compounding is critical for injectable drugs to prevent life-threatening infections. While these compounded versions are often less expensive and more accessible, the lack of robust evidence for the added ingredients and the difficulties regulators face in overseeing this diffuse market highlight potential risks for patients seeking affordable weight-loss solutions.
