The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced that there is no longer a shortage of the well-known weight-loss and diabetes medications, Wegovy and Ozempic.
The FDA has announced that the shortage of semaglutide injection products, a GLP-1 medication, has been resolved after experiencing increased demand since 2022.
The agency confirmed that the manufacturer can now meet current and anticipated national demand, although some localized supply disruptions may still occur. To prevent treatment interruptions for patients, the FDA will not pursue action against compounding pharmacies for creating versions of semaglutide within specified timeframes: 60 days for state-licensed pharmacies and 90 days for outsourcing facilities.
However, the FDA retains the authority to address any other regulatory violations, particularly concerning product quality and safety.
This update from drug manufacturer Novo Nordisk comes just months after a similar announcement regarding the availability of Eli Lilly’s tirzepatide injections, Zepbound and Mounjaro, reported CNN.
Dave Moore, president of Novo Nordisk Inc., expressed satisfaction with the FDA’s declaration, stating that their supply meets or surpasses the current demand nationwide.
Since 2022, these GLP-1 drugs have been hard to find due to heightened demand. During this time, compounded versions of the medications, made by pharmacies using the same active ingredients, helped fill the gaps in supply. This alternative made it possible for many individuals to access these medications at a lower cost.
Despite these developments, some compounded medication manufacturers argue that the supply chain’s stability is still uncertain, reported CNN. Companies like Olympia Pharmaceuticals provide compounded GLP-1 medications to many patients each week, and there are ongoing concerns about being able to meet demand consistently.