Verbatim response from Claude
FDA & Compounded GLP-1s: What Happened
The Short Version
The FDA declared the shortage of semaglutide (Ozempic/Wegovy) and tirzepatide (Mounjaro/Zepbound) officially over, which triggered a legal requirement for compounding pharmacies to stop making copies.
Key Deadlines
- Tirzepatide: Compounders were ordered to stop around March 2025
- Semaglutide: Deadline was around April 2025
Many compounders fought this in court, with some temporary injunctions allowing continued operations briefly, but the FDA largely prevailed.
Who Can Still Legally Operate
Legitimate remaining options:
- 503A pharmacies can still compound for patients with a specific, documented clinical need (like a specific dose or allergy accommodation) — not mass production
- 503B outsourcing facilities had stricter cutoffs
Telehealth platforms still operating (through legitimate means):
- Hims & Hers — shifted to FDA-approved branded drugs
- Ro — similar pivot
- Noom Med, WeightWatchers (Sequence) — prescribing branded versions
Bottom Line
If someone is offering cheap compounded semaglutide or tirzepatide freely right now, it's likely illegal or operating in a gray area. Stick to licensed telehealth platforms prescribing the branded FDA-approved versions.