Compounded GLP-1s After the Shortage: What's Legal in 2026

The FDA removed semaglutide and tirzepatide from the official drug shortage list. Under section 503B, outsourcing facilities can no longer mass-produce copies of drugs that are not in shortage. Most large-scale compounded GLP-1 production ended within 60–90 days of the announcement.

503A pharmacies — traditional state-licensed compounders — can still produce a compounded medication when a clinician documents that a specific patient needs a personalized formulation (different dose strength, allergy to an inactive ingredient, combination with a vitamin like B12).

This is the loophole many telehealth programs now operate through. The prescription must be patient-specific, not a bulk order. Programs that rely on this model are smaller, slower, and slightly more expensive than the pre-shortage era.

• Ask your program which model they now use (503A personalized vs. discontinued)
• Check if you qualify for brand-name Wegovy or Zepbound via insurance — patient-assistance programs widened in 2025
• If switching to brand-name, expect a brief titration reset
• Avoid any pharmacy still mass-producing copies — that's now non-compliant