.png)
There’s a new threat to the Ozempic monopoly: compounders.
Compounders, typically pharmacies and medical spas, take semaglutide, the active ingredient in popular weight loss drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy, and combine, mix, and alter the ingredients to create a medication tailored to their patient's needs.
Although semaglutide is under patent by Novo Nordisk, the company behind Ozempic and Wegovy, compounding is entirely legal and even encouraged by the FDA.
Is it a serious threat to big pharma? Industry officials estimate that 2 million Americans are receiving regular doses of semaglutide from compounders, while 15.5 million Americans have tried weight-loss drugs altogether.
The decision largely comes down to cost. Patients pay about $100–$450 monthly for compounded semaglutide, compared with list prices of roughly $1,000-$1,400 for Nordisk products.
