Weight Management
GLP-1 Medications in 2026: What Patients Should Know About Supply and Compounding
Semaglutide and tirzepatide are no longer in shortage, and large-scale compounding has wound down. Here is the current status and what it means when you choose a program.
Reviewed by the clinical team at Zest Regen Health · October 14, 2026 · 7 min read
Content managed by Phil Kim, Lucky Consulting Group
As of late 2026, neither semaglutide nor tirzepatide is on the FDA drug shortage list, and the temporary allowances that permitted large-scale compounding of these medications have ended. That means FDA-approved products remain the standard of care, and programs still built around mass-compounded copies may be operating outside current rules. At Zest Regen Health in Columbia, Maryland, GLP-1 support is part of a supervised medical weight loss program where candidacy, dosing, and monitoring are managed by the clinical team.
Where the shortages stand now
The FDA declared the tirzepatide shortage resolved in December 2024 and the semaglutide shortage resolved on February 21, 2025. The law that allowed pharmacies to compound copies of a drug during a shortage tied that allowance to shortage status, so those allowances expired once the shortages ended. By mid-2025 the transition deadlines had passed, and neither drug has returned to the shortage list through late 2026.
| Medication | Original products | Shortage status | Stop-compounding deadlines |
|---|---|---|---|
| Semaglutide | Ozempic, Wegovy | Resolved February 21, 2025 | April 22, 2025 (503A); May 22, 2025 (503B) |
| Tirzepatide | Mounjaro, Zepbound | Resolved December 2024 | February 19, 2025 (503A); March 19, 2025 (503B) |
What the FDA proposed in 2026
In April 2026 the FDA proposed removing semaglutide, tirzepatide, and liraglutide from the bulk drug substances list used by 503B outsourcing facilities, citing the availability of approved products and a lack of clinical need for bulk compounding. The proposal was published in May 2026 and, as of late 2026, had not been finalized. Legal challenges to the shortage determinations were rejected by the Fifth Circuit during 2026.
What compounding is still allowed
Compounding of these drugs is not universally banned. In narrow, patient-specific circumstances under 503A, a pharmacy may prepare a medication for an individual patient with a documented medical need, such as an allergy to an excipient in the approved product or a different dosage form the patient cannot use. What has ended is the mass, anticipatory compounding of copies that the shortage once allowed.
What patients should watch for
- Programs advertising compounded semaglutide or compounded tirzepatide as a routine option without a documented, patient-specific reason
- Salt forms, such as semaglutide sodium or acetate, which differ from the active ingredient in approved products and were flagged by the FDA for dosing and quality concerns
- Multi-dose vials that require patients to measure units, the source of the FDA's 2024 warning about dosing errors and hospitalizations
- Any source that cannot show you that the product, the pharmacy, and the prescribing clinician are all linked and documented
How GLP-1 care works at Zest Regen Health
GLP-1 support at Zest Regen Health is part of a physician-supervised medical weight loss program at the Columbia, Maryland clinic, which serves patients in Howard County and surrounding communities within about 20 miles. Candidacy starts with an evaluation, labs are used when they inform the plan, and dosing and follow-up are managed by the clinical team. Care is self-pay, and the team explains which medication options are currently available and appropriate, and what monitoring is required.
Meet our physicians, who evaluate patients at Zest Regen Health (/dr-francisco-ward/).
Sources & further reading
- FDA: FDA clarifies policies for compounders as national GLP-1 supply begins to stabilize
- FDA: FDA proposes to exclude semaglutide, tirzepatide, and liraglutide from the 503B bulk drug substances list
- FDA: Resolution of shortages of semaglutide injection products (February 2025)
- FDA: Declaratory order on the resolution of the tirzepatide shortage (December 2024)
- Pharmacy Times (October 2026): FDA moves to permanently close the door on compounded GLP-1s
Next step
If you have been considering a GLP-1 weight loss program, book a free 15-minute consultation at the Columbia clinic. The team will review your history, explain what is currently available and appropriate, and outline exactly what a supervised program includes.
Talk with our care team about this topic
A member of our clinical team can answer your questions at the Columbia, Maryland clinic. If GLP-1 Weight Loss Programs may be appropriate for you, the first step is a consultation.
Care at Zest Regen Health is physician-guided. Meet our physicians, who evaluate patients at the Columbia, Maryland clinic.