Verbatim response from Claude
FDA & Compounded GLP-1s: What Happened
The Short Version
The FDA declared the shortages of semaglutide (Ozempic/Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro/Zepbound) officially over in early 2025. This means 503A and 503B compounding pharmacies lost their legal right to mass-produce these drugs.
Key deadlines:
- Tirzepatide compounding: deadline passed March 2025
- Semaglutide compounding: deadline passed April/May 2025
Who Is Still Operating Legally
Personalized/503A compounding is still allowed IF:
- A licensed prescriber writes a prescription requiring a specific customization (different dose, added ingredient, etc.) for an individual patient
- It's not mass-produced
Legitimate current options include:
- Hims & Hers – pivoted to FDA-approved brand medications
- Ro – now primarily offering branded Wegovy/Zepbound
- LifeMD / Nuvation – prescribing branded versions
- Your personal doctor prescribing brand-name drugs
⚠️ Red Flags to Avoid
- Any telehealth company still heavily advertising cheap "compounded semaglutide" at scale is likely operating in a legal gray area or illegally
Always verify your pharmacy's licensing and ask specifically what you're receiving.