Last Updated: January 2026

Compounding Pharmacies That Make Semaglutide: How to Find and Evaluate Them

Searching for a compounding pharmacy that makes semaglutide? You're not alone—millions of Americans have explored compounded GLP-1 medications as an alternative to expensive brand-name drugs like Wegovy and Ozempic.

But here's the critical issue: not all compounding pharmacies are created equal. The difference between a safe, legitimate compounding pharmacy and a questionable one can mean the difference between getting an effective medication and receiving a product with wildly inconsistent potency—or worse.

This guide covers how to find compounding pharmacies that make semaglutide, what certifications to look for, the current regulatory landscape, and specific red flags that should make you walk away.

Understanding Compounded Semaglutide

Compounded semaglutide is semaglutide prepared by a compounding pharmacy rather than manufactured by Novo Nordisk (the maker of Ozempic and Wegovy). Compounding pharmacies purchase the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) and formulate it into injectable or sublingual preparations.

Key Points About Compounded Semaglutide:

• Contains the same active ingredient as Ozempic/Wegovy
• NOT FDA-approved for safety or efficacy
• No clinical trial data exists for compounded versions
• May use different inactive ingredients (excipients)
• Potency can vary between pharmacies and batches
• Legal status changed after FDA resolved the shortage (February 2025)

Two Types of Compounding Pharmacies: 503A vs. 503B

Before choosing a pharmacy, understand the two regulatory categories:

503A Pharmacies (Traditional Compounding)

• State-licensed and regulated by state boards of pharmacy
• Compound based on individual patient prescriptions
• No routine FDA inspection
• NOT required to report adverse events to FDA
• May or may not perform third-party testing
• Quality standards vary significantly

503B Outsourcing Facilities

• FDA-registered and directly inspected
• Can compound larger batches without patient-specific prescriptions
• Must comply with Current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP)
• Required to report adverse events
• Must submit biannual reports to FDA
• Higher quality standards, but fewer facilities exist

How to Find Compounding Pharmacies That Make Semaglutide

Option 1: Through Telehealth Platforms

Most people access compounded semaglutide through telehealth companies that partner with compounding pharmacies. These platforms handle the prescription process and pharmacy selection for you.

Pros: Convenient, includes medical consultation, handles logistics

Cons: Less transparency about which pharmacy fills your prescription, bundled pricing may obscure true costs

Option 2: Direct from Compounding Pharmacies

If you have your own prescription from a provider, you can work directly with a compounding pharmacy.

Pros: More control over pharmacy selection, can verify credentials directly, potentially lower cost

Cons: Requires finding your own prescriber, more research required

Finding 503B Outsourcing Facilities

The FDA maintains a public list of registered 503B outsourcing facilities at: fda.gov/drugs/human-drug-compounding/registered-outsourcing-facilities

The 5-Step Verification Process

Known PCAB-Accredited Compounding Pharmacies

These pharmacies have achieved PCAB accreditation, indicating high quality standards. Note: This is not a recommendation or endorsement—verify current accreditation status before ordering:

Always verify current accreditation status at achc.org before making decisions.

Red Flags: When to Walk Away

The Semaglutide Salt Form Issue

One quality concern specific to compounded semaglutide is the use of different salt forms:

• Semaglutide base: The form used in FDA-approved products (Ozempic, Wegovy)
• Semaglutide sodium: A salt form some compounders use
• Semaglutide acetate: Another salt form occasionally seen

The FDA has warned that salt forms have NOT been studied for safety or efficacy and are NOT equivalent to the base form used in approved medications. Novo Nordisk's testing of compounded products has found some samples containing salt forms with "24%+ impurities" including unknown substances.

Ask your compounding pharmacy: What form of semaglutide do you use? Can you provide documentation?

Current Pricing Landscape (2026)

Compounded Semaglutide

Brand-Name Alternatives

Questions to Ask Any Compounding Pharmacy

Before ordering compounded semaglutide, ask these questions:

1. "Are you licensed in my state?" (Verify independently)
2. "Are you a 503A or 503B facility?"
3. "Are you PCAB-accredited?" (Verify at achc.org)
4. "Are you LegitScript certified?" (Verify at legitscript.com)
5. "What form of semaglutide do you use—base or salt form?"
6. "Do you perform third-party potency and sterility testing?"
7. "Can you provide a Certificate of Analysis for my batch?"
8. "What is your beyond-use date and how should I store this medication?"
9. "Have you received any FDA warning letters?"
10. "What is the legal basis for compounding semaglutide now that the shortage has ended?"

The Regulatory Reality (January 2026)

Important context for anyone considering compounded semaglutide:

• February 21, 2025: FDA removed semaglutide from the drug shortage list
• April-May 2025: Enforcement discretion periods ended for compounders
• September 2025: FDA issued 50+ warning letters to GLP-1 compounders
• Novo Nordisk has filed 132 federal lawsuits against compounders

Compounding pharmacies can still legally make semaglutide IF they're creating a product with a "significant difference" from commercially available products—not an "essentially a copy." However, the FDA has warned that "pretextual differences" (like adding B12 just to claim a difference) may not satisfy this requirement.

The Bottom Line

If you're determined to use a compounding pharmacy for semaglutide, prioritize safety over price:

However, consider whether compounding is still the right choice. With brand-name pricing dropping to $199-349/month, Medicare coverage coming, and the FDA-approved oral Wegovy now available at $149/month, the risk-benefit calculation has shifted significantly toward FDA-approved options.

Sources

• FDA Drug Shortage Database - Semaglutide
• ACHC/PCAB Accreditation Database
• LegitScript Certification Standards
• FDA Warning Letters Database, September 2025
• FDA 503B Outsourcing Facility Registration
• USP Chapter <797> Pharmaceutical Compounding—Sterile Preparations