Made with the drug in Wegovy or Zepbound, but not the same product and not FDA-approved. Brand GLP-1s (Wegovy, Ozempic, Zepbound, Mounjaro) are FDA-approved finished drugs, manufactured under cGMP and supplied in pens or vials. Compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide are prepared by state-licensed 503A pharmacies or 503B outsourcing facilities under federal exceptions; they are not FDA-approved, not generic, and not the same product as the brand drugs.
Side-by-side
| Dimension | Compounded GLP-1 | Branded GLP-1 |
|---|---|---|
| Semaglutide | $49–$169/mo across 22 compounded semaglutide programs (median $94), cash | Wegovy pen $349/mo self-pay through NovoCare ($199 for two starter fills for new patients through December 31, 2026); Wegovy pill $149–$299/mo; list price $1,349.02 a package |
| Tirzepatide | $86–$280/mo across 28 compounded tirzepatide programs (median $144), cash | Zepbound $299 (2.5 mg), $399 (5 mg), $449 (7.5–15 mg with each refill within 45 days) through LillyDirect |
| FDA approval | Not FDA-approved; FDA does not review compounded drugs for safety, effectiveness or quality before sale | FDA-approved finished drugs |
| Made by | State-licensed 503A pharmacies (patient-specific) or 503B outsourcing facilities | Novo Nordisk (semaglutide) and Eli Lilly (tirzepatide) |
Index figures are the lowest all-in monthly price we found for each program, read October 15, 2026, including conditional and "as low as" prices as printed. Brand prices: novocare.com (Wegovy) and Lilly's Zepbound savings page, read October 15, 2026.
Who should pick Compounded GLP-1
Cash-pay patients (no coverage, high deductible, or excluded coverage) who want a lower monthly cost and are comfortable with the 503A/503B regulatory framework and with a product that is not FDA-approved.
Who should pick Branded GLP-1
Patients with insurance coverage for branded at meaningful copay; patients who want FDA-approved labeling for indication-specific use (Wegovy CV, Zepbound OSA); patients who prefer a manufacturer pen, or a brand self-pay price they can confirm directly with the manufacturer.
Frequently asked
Same ingredient — different products how?
Branded is an FDA-approved finished drug. Compounded is prepared by 503A pharmacies or 503B outsourcing facilities under federal exceptions and is not FDA-approved. Compounded semaglutide or tirzepatide is made with the drug in Wegovy or Zepbound, not the same product: manufacturing standards, added ingredients, container, dosing format and FDA approval status differ.
Are compounded legal?
Yes, within limits: when prepared by a licensed 503A pharmacy for an individual patient with a valid prescription, or by a 503B FDA-registered outsourcing facility under its own rules. FDA's warning letters show that some compounders have been cited for products that "appear to be essentially copies" of FDA-approved semaglutide and tirzepatide.
Will FDA make them illegal?
There is no final decision. FDA proposed (announced April 30, 2026; 91 FR 23431) not to place tirzepatide, semaglutide or liraglutide on the 503B bulks list, and extended the comment period to July 30, 2026 (91 FR 38719); we found no final decision as of October 15, 2026. FDA's GLP-1 concerns page (current as of October 1, 2026) says retatrutide and cagrilintide cannot be used in compounding and that compounded multi-dose GLP-1 vials should be discarded 28 days after first use. Patient-specific 503A compounding continues.