Branded GLP-1 vs Compounded GLP-1
This comparison is mostly a regulatory one rather than a clinical one. Compounding pharmacies were permitted to make copies of semaglutide and tirzepatide while those drugs were formally in shortage. Those shortages were declared resolved, which removed the basis for it.
| Dimension | Branded GLP-1 | Compounded GLP-1 |
|---|---|---|
| FDA approval | Approved finished product | Not FDA-approved |
| Current availability | Available through approved channels | Copies of approved drugs are not permissible post-shortage |
| Where compounding remains possible | Not applicable | Patient-specific 503A only, where a prescriber documents a clinical need the approved product cannot meet |
| Manufacturing oversight | FDA-regulated manufacturing | State board or FDA-registered facility, depending on 503A or 503B |
| Dose consistency | Standardised | Varies by preparation |
| Enforcement position | Settled | FDA sent warning letters to 30 telehealth companies in March 2026 |
How a provider actually decides
TryGenesis does not offer compounded copies of semaglutide or tirzepatide, because the regulatory basis for doing so no longer exists. What is offered is the approved product, and genuine patient-specific compounding only where a prescriber documents an individual clinical need. A provider advertising compounded copies as a routine cheaper alternative is operating outside that framework.
Read more on each
Semaglutide
Semaglutide is a GLP-1 receptor agonist prescribed for weight management. Learn how it is dosed, what monitoring it needs, and what a provider assesses first.
Tirzepatide
Tirzepatide is a dual GIP and GLP-1 receptor agonist used in weight management. Learn how it differs from semaglutide and what evaluation it requires.
Related questions
Do you offer compounded semaglutide or tirzepatide?
Not as a general offering. The FDA declared the semaglutide and tirzepatide shortages resolved, which ended the basis on which pharmacies could compound copies of them, and enforcement discretion for outsourcing facilities ended in March 2025. What remains available is the FDA-approved branded product, and genuine patient-specific compounding only where a prescriber documents a clinical need the approved product cannot meet. Any provider offering compounded copies as a routine low-cost alternative is operating outside that framework.
Am I eligible for GLP-1 therapy?
Eligibility generally rests on BMI thresholds, with a lower threshold applying where weight-related comorbidities are present. There are also absolute contraindications: a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma or MEN2 rules the class out entirely, and a history of pancreatitis requires careful consideration. A provider determines eligibility after reviewing your intake and laboratory results, and not everyone qualifies.