Patients Are Left With Few Options as GLP-1 Copycats Disappear
1 min read
Summary
Popular weight loss drugs Wegovy and Ozempic, known as GLP-1s and made by Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly, are now in plentiful supply in the US after a two-year shortage.
This has led the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to instruct compounding pharmacies to stop making copycat drugs.
The compounded versions of the drugs are much cheaper than the brand-name products and have been in high demand, particularly as many patients struggle to gain reimbursement for the drugs from their insurers.
Some patients are now stockpiling the compounded drugs, while others are turning to online pharmacies with questionable legal standing.
GLP-1s are so effective that many patients fear coming off them, and some fear they will be unable to afford the brand-name products.
