Compounded semaglutide is semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy, prepared by a licensed compounding pharmacy rather than by the original manufacturer (Novo Nordisk). The molecule is the same. The price is dramatically lower. Here's how it works.
What Compounding Is
Compounding is the practice of preparing prescription medications from individual pharmaceutical ingredients. Compounding pharmacies have existed for centuries, they're how medications were made before pharmaceutical manufacturing became industrialized.
Today, compounding pharmacies are licensed by state pharmacy boards and, for 503B outsourcing facilities, regulated under FDA oversight. They prepare medications from pharmaceutical-grade ingredients, producing the same active molecules as brand-name drugs but without the brand markup.
Why Compounded Semaglutide Is Legal
The FDA permits compounding of semaglutide because the active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) is not patent-protected in the same way the drug formulation is. When a drug appears on the FDA's drug shortage list, compounding of that drug is explicitly permitted under Section 503B of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. Semaglutide was on the shortage list from 2022 through much of 2024–2025 due to high demand. The legal landscape around compounding continues to evolve; as of 2026 compounded semaglutide remains available through telehealth providers.
What's Actually in the Vial
Compounded semaglutide is typically supplied as a multi-dose vial in a sterile solution. The vial contains semaglutide (the active ingredient), a buffer solution, and sometimes additional components like B12 (added by some providers). The semaglutide API is sourced from certified pharmaceutical ingredient suppliers and prepared in a cleanroom environment at the compounding pharmacy.
503A vs 503B Pharmacies
503A pharmacies are traditional compounding pharmacies that prepare medications for specific individual patients. Licensed by state pharmacy boards.
503B outsourcing facilities are a higher standard, federally regulated facilities that can prepare compounded medications in larger batches without specific patient prescriptions and are subject to FDA inspections and CGMP (current good manufacturing practice) requirements.
Providers using 503B facilities offer the highest regulatory assurance for compounded medications. Ask any telehealth provider which category their pharmacy falls under.
How to Administer It
Compounded semaglutide comes in a multi-dose vial. You draw the prescribed dose into a small insulin-type syringe and inject subcutaneously (under the skin), typically in the abdomen, thigh, or upper arm. The injection technique is straightforward; telehealth providers supply detailed instructions and video guides. Needles are small (typically 29–31 gauge) and the injection is nearly painless for most patients.