Ozempic and Wegovy, the broadly well-liked types of semaglutide bought to deal with diabetes and weight problems, have formally been faraway from the Meals and Drug Administration’s (FDA) drug scarcity record almost 4 months after the company discovered the medication to be accessible.
The FDA’s drug scarcity record now states that as of Feb. 21, 2025, the shortages of Ozempic and Wegovy injections are over. The shortages have been first declared in August 2022.
On the finish of October 2024, the FDA had decided there was an accessible provide of each medication and that they have been now not “currently in shortage.” This occurred shortly after the shortages of Mounjaro and Zepbound had been declared over, setting off concerted pushback from compounding pharmacy teams that have been in a position to promote copycat variations of the medication whereas they have been in scarcity.
Novo Nordisk, the producer of semaglutide, confirmed in an announcement Friday that the present provide of its product “meets or exceeds both current and projected U.S. demand.”
“We are pleased the FDA has declared that supply of the only real, FDA-approved semaglutide medicines is resolved, affirming that Novo Nordisk is meeting or exceeding current and projected nationwide demand,” stated Dave Moore, Novo Nordisk govt vp of U.S. operations and world enterprise growth.
“No one should have to compromise their health due to misinformation and reach for fake or illegitimate knockoff drugs that pose significant safety risks to patients,” he added.
Scott Brunner, CEO of the Alliance for Pharmacy Compounding, stated in an announcement, “Look, compounding pharmacists have long known that this shortage had a shelf-life.” Whereas Brunner questioned whether or not the scarcity was actually over, he stated the FDA had executed some issues “right.”
“What FDA did right this time, something it did not do with its abrupt October 2, 2024, resolution of the tirzepatide injection shortage: The agency is providing an off-ramp, a period of time when their pharmacist and provider can transition patients to the FDA-approved drug if it’s available,” Brunner acknowledged. “All we can do now is watch what happens as patients hear this news and their providers and pharmacists work to get them a new prescription for the FDA-approved drug.”
Beneath federal regulation, compounding pharmacies are categorized into 503As and 503Bs. 503As alter medicines for sufferers who might not have the ability to take them as they’re bought, resembling liquifying medicines for sufferers who cannot swallow capsules. 503Bs are permitted to make giant batches of compounded medication, usually for hospitals, and are what telehealth firms have utilized to promote compounded GLP-1s.
One enterprise that invested closely in compounded GLP-1 medicines like semaglutide is the telehealth firm Hims & Hers Well being. The web firm marketed its sale of compounded GLP-1 medication in a 60-second Tremendous Bowl advert earlier this month, drawing some scrutiny and criticisms.
The corporate purchased its personal compounding pharmacy final 12 months. Hims & Hers CEO Andrew Dudum indicated on social platform X that his firm would proceed to supply compounded semaglutide to the extent it’s in a position.
“We do compound semaglutide. Now that the FDA has determined the drug shortage for semaglutide has been resolved, we will continue to offer access to personalized treatments as allowed by law to meet patient needs,” Dudum wrote. “We’re also closely monitoring potential future shortages, as Novo Nordisk stated two weeks ago that it would continue to have ‘capacity limitations’ and ‘expected continued periodic supply constraints and related drug shortage notifications.'”
