Louisville pharmacy dispensing compounded weight loss drugs in effort to address shortage

LOUISVILLE, Ky. (WDRB) -- A nationwide shortage of popular weight loss medications has patients searching for alternatives, and many are turning to compounded versions.

However, not all options are created equal, and some carry risks.

At Louisville Compounding Pharmacy, pharmacists are working to meet the demand by dispensing individually-tailored versions of these medications for patients who can’t access brand name drugs due to supply issues.

"The demand is high, for sure," said Erik Mayes, a pharmacist and part owner at Louisville Compounding Pharmacy.

Some weight loss injections have become difficult to find amid soaring demand. In Kentucky, the craze has earned Bowling Green the nickname "Ozempictown, USA."

To fill the gap, some pharmacies are turning to compounding. Compounded medications are tailored to individual patients. Compounding occurs when a drug altered for specific needs — for instance, if a patient needs a pill converted into a liquid medication — or to make a drug available when it's on the FDA's shortage list.

However, compounded drugs are not FDA-approved because each formulation is unique.

“There’s a battery of tests that we typically put on these injectable products to make sure they are what they say they are,” Mayes explained.

The FDA has concerns about the compounded versions of these drugs. In a statement, the agency said it "has identified some areas of concern for compounded GLP-1 drugs. The agency is working with its state regulatory partners and will continue to communicate with compounders regarding these concerns." The FDA also warned consumers not to use counterfeit semaglutide in 2023.

"There are definitely some rogue players out there in this market," said Mayes. "You could probably go online right now, fill out a form, perhaps not even speak to a provider, and have medication arrive on your doorstep."

Pharmaceutical giants Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk, makers of Zepbound and Wegovy, respectively, have filed lawsuits against medical spas, weight-loss clinics, and compounding pharmacies they accuse of selling unauthorized versions of their drugs. The companies argue that some compounded products are ineffective or even dangerous.

Eli Lilly stated "Lilly is deeply concerned that products fraudulently claimed by compounding pharmacies or counterfeiters to be FDA-approved tirzepatide, Mounjaro®, or Zepbound® may expose patients to serious health risks."

Novo Nordisk said its lawsuits "aim to protect US patients and consumers from deceptive marketing by these entities as well as potentially harmful and improperly compounded drugs claiming to contain semaglutide."

At least seven deaths linked to compounded versions of semaglutide, the active ingredient in these medications, have been reported to the FDA.

The Alliance for Pharmacy Compounding disputes the manufacturers’ claims, arguing that legitimate compounding is distinct from illegal practices.

It a statement the group wrote "recent 'open letters' from Novo and Lilly that appear to conflate legitimate compounding with illegal substances in which the drug manufacturers allege they have found impurities."

Mayes said "They’ve invested a lot of research dollars and money into bringing these drugs to market, so it makes sense they’d want to hang on to every dollar they can," referring to the large drug manufacturers.

To ensure safety, patients are advised to verify that their pharmacy is licensed in their state and avoid buying weight-loss drugs online without a prescription.

"Generally, compounded medications are going to be safe if they’re from a state-regulated pharmacy," Mayes said.

Until supply issues are resolved, Louisville Compounding Pharmacy plans to continue providing these custom formulations to help patients manage their health.

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