Since their debut, Injectable GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic are in high demand. In addition to treating diabetes and obesity, these drugs also have cardiovascular benefits, and there is evidence that they may curb addiction and even prevent some types of cancer. The appeal is even wider. But for people who hate needles, these drugs have obvious drawbacks. This means weekly injections are required.
But now, platforms like Instagram and Facebook are seeing a surge in ads for oral knockoffs of GLP-1 drugs. After a shortage of GLP-1 branded drugs in 2022, there will be a booming industry of “compounding” pharmacies and telemedicine clinics that will provide copies of the drug, as legally permitted in the event of a shortage. rose to prominence. But unlike the big drug companies that manufacture the originals, these virtual clinics and specialty pharmacies offer versions of semaglutide and tirzepatide for weight loss that are taken orally. They offer lozenges, tablets, pills, cheek gels, drops, and dissolving strips, and promise to deliver the same active ingredients as their trademark medicines without the injections.
This is an attractive prospect. Especially since these drugs are offered at a fraction of the price of name-brand equivalents and are often shipped overnight after prospective patients fill out a short questionnaire online. 1 month supply of semaglutide lozenges with vitamin B6 Telemedicine startup StrutFor example, the price without insurance is $149, while Wegovy’s price is over $1,000.
“As a pharmacist, I can understand the excitement about the rise in oral semaglutide because it’s an easier option than injectables,” says John, who runs pharmaceutical packaging company Parcell Health and is currently working on developing GLP-1 drugs. says Melinda Lee, a pharmacist who manages availability. database. Oral versions do not require refrigeration like injectables, making them easier to ship and store. But while Lee understands the enthusiasm, he remains skeptical. While taking the drug orally may be more appealing than a needle, there is no evidence yet that it is equally effective when it comes to GLP-1, she says.
Unlike the brand-name drugs Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound, the combination versions have not been rigorously tested in clinical trials or approved by the Food and Drug Administration. Also, by law they must contain the same active ingredients as counterfeit drugs, but these oral preparations may not be as effective as injectables.
Maria Daniela Hurtado Andrade, an obesity specialist at the Mayo Clinic in Jacksonville, Fla., says she doesn’t recommend oral combination GLP-1 drugs to her patients. “I don’t consider them, I don’t prescribe them, and I don’t endorse them,” she says.
