After telehealth startups lately misplaced the flexibility to promote actual copies of patented GLP-1 weight-loss medication, some corporations have begun turning to a distinct, much less efficient treatment that has been in the marketplace in the US since 2010. Typically thought-about a precursor to blockbuster merchandise like Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic and Eli Lilly’s Zepbound, liraglutide is turning into the brand new darling of on-line clinics providing prescription weight reduction and diabetes meds—regardless of its relative outdated age.
Initially offered by Novo Nordisk underneath the model names Victroza and Saxenda, the drug has been accessible in generic type within the US since final yr. Like Ozempic, liraglutide is a GLP-1 agonist that mimics a naturally occurring hormone and works by suppressing starvation cues and regulating insulin ranges. But it surely doesn’t have the identical identify recognition or reputation because the newer GLP-1 medication for a quite simple motive: It does not work as properly, may cause extra extreme unwanted effects, and sufferers must inject it day by day moderately than weekly.
The FDA decided earlier this yr that patented drugs like Zepound and Ozempic have been not in scarcity, ending provisions that allowed on-line clinics to promote off-brand, compounded variations of the medication. As clinics and producers wind down gross sales of these compounds, many on-line clinics and producers are embracing liraglutide. Main telehealth firm Hims added generic liraglutide to its lineup final month, becoming a member of over a dozen rivals already providing the product in compounded, generic, or name-brand kinds.
Giant compounding pharmacies, like Florida-based Olympia Prescribed drugs, are already pivoting to producing the treatment, anticipating that demand will rise. “We’ve signed some fairly giant contracts for liraglutide,” says chief monetary officer Joshua Fritzler. “We will deal with it sort of the identical method we handled semaglutide and tirzepatide,” the energetic components in Ozempic and Zepbound. Fritzler says Olympia plans to start ramping up manufacturing this summer season.
GLP-1 drugs like Ozempic and Zepbound have been heralded for his or her unparalleled success in treating weight problems and kind 2 diabetes. Researchers consider additionally they have the potential to assist sufferers affected by all kinds of different situations, from habit to Parkinson’s. After demand for GLP-1s exploded in recent times, the FDA declared that among the name-brand variations have been formally in scarcity. That meant docs may legally prescribe cheaper “compounded” variations of semaglutide and tirzepatide with the identical energetic components because the originals.
Compounding pharmacies and telehealth startups flourished promoting these various GLP-1 merchandise on-line, attracting thousands and thousands of shoppers who couldn’t afford or have been unwilling to pay increased costs for the name-brand drugs, that are regularly not coated by insurance coverage. Now, the shortages for each these meds have ended. The FDA’s grace interval for producers to cease producing and promoting compounded tirzepatide is over, and the closing date for semaglutide is Might 22. Liraglutide, although, has been in shortage since April 2023, so the compounders are free to maintain making it.
Some telehealth corporations are persevering with to supply compounded drugs they are saying aren’t technically direct copies of patented medication as a result of they arrive in custom-made doses or with added nutritional vitamins. Eli Lilly has already sued a few of them, alleging that these variations are unlawful. Different telehealth corporations and compounders are enjoying it protected, ceasing gross sales altogether. (Olympia, for instance, is stopping manufacturing of semaglutide.)