The Risks of Compounded Weight Loss Drugs: A Look at Hims & Hers Controversial Strategy

The weight loss drug market, dominated by GLP-1 agonists from companies like Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly, is facing competition. While many companies aim to develop their own GLP-1 drugs, Hims & Hers Health has taken a different approach by offering compounded versions of existing medications like Ozempic. This strategy, however, is risky. Similar to counterfeit goods, compounded medications may contain different ingredients and lack the quality control of FDA-approved drugs. While Hims & Hers justifies this by highlighting the high cost and limited access to brand-name GLP-1 medications, the FDA does not verify the safety or effectiveness of compounded drugs.