The reversal of the tirzepatide shortage has created a difficult situation for many patients taking combined forms of the drug. As WIRED recently reported, many of these patients are concerned about not being able to afford or access name-brand drugs. Eli Lilly recently introduced new, cheaper versions of Mounjaro and Zepbound (which come in vials instead of syringe pens), with monthly prices ranging from $400 to $550 depending on dosage. , which is still significantly more expensive than many products. Combination vials are also available.
Some pharmacists say even people who want and can afford to switch to a name-brand product may find it difficult to get the drug right away. At a roundtable held by the Pharmacy Compounding Alliance on Oct. 9, four pharmacists said they were still having trouble filling prescriptions for the name-brand tirzepatide. Scott Welch, co-owner of Virginia-based Preston’s Pharmacy, said during the roundtable, “If there’s a shortage from the FDA, we’re hopeful that we’ll be able to get that product.” I explained that I couldn’t buy products from famous brands. Mounjaro or Zepbound obtained from his wholesaler after the shortage was resolved.
The increasingly complex GLP-1 industry has already launched its own offensive to stay in business. Shortly after the shortage was resolved, a conglomerate industry group called the Outsourcing Facilities Association filed a lawsuit against the FDA in Texas federal court. claim Tirzepatide remains in short supply, and the decision to formally end the shortage would “suddenly deprive patients of much-needed treatment and artificially raise drug prices,” it said.
Some telemedicine companies that sell combination tirzepatide have introduced versions of the drug with other ingredients such as glycine, niacinamide, and other B vitamins. Because these products are not technically direct copies of Eli Lilly’s products, some formulators may argue that they are still allowed to make versions with added active ingredients. . Lily does not consider this acceptable. “Due to the availability of Lilly’s FDA-approved drug, there is no basis for mass production or mass marketing of combined tirzepatide, either alone or in combination with other ingredients,” Forbes said. “Some companies are trying to invent new, unregulated ways to circumvent the law by mass-producing unapproved drugs and mixing them with other ingredients to create complex products. That’s not how the system works. There is no conduit for mass sales of unapproved drugs to the American public.”
Meanwhile, Novo Nordisk’s GLP-1 drug remains in short supply, but the company has recently refrained from using its combination semaglutide. publication A peer-reviewed paper published in the journal Pharmaceutical Research examines a clinical trial of 26 samples of combination semaglutide. The study found that the samples were of “significantly lower quality than stated on the label” and contained impurities such as trace metals and residual solvents. Novo Nordisk spokesperson Jamie Bennett said, “The strength of many of the samples tested was significantly lower than the strength listed on the product label, and some of these products may have been banned by the FDA. “It contained ingredients that
Demand is expected to only increase as there is growing evidence that GLP-1s like tirzepatide are effective in treating other diseases besides obesity and diabetes, such as addiction and Parkinson’s disease. It remains to be seen whether pharmaceutical companies will be able to keep up with demand or whether drugs will become scarce again and compounders can reenter the market.
