Over the past few years, drugs like Wegovy, Ozempic, and Mounjaro have become household names, sparking worldwide conversations about weight loss, diabetes care, and the future of medicine. Demand for these medications, known as GLP-1s, has skyrocketed, but with that demand has come a shadow market: unregulated, compounded versions of GLP-1 drugs being sold online, often with misleading claims about safety and approval.
To better understand this growing trend, Michael J. DiStefano, PhD, Assistant Professor in the Center for Pharmaceutical Outcomes Research, and a team of researchers from CU Pharmacy have been studying the direct-to-consumer market for compounded GLP-1s, first only in Colorado, and now, a second study, with expanded states. Their findings raise important questions about patient safety, affordability, and the role of regulation in a fast-moving healthcare landscape.
In this Q&A, Dr. DiStefano shares his insights on the risks of compounded GLP-1s, how celebrity culture and rising costs are shaping demand, and what consumers should know as new weight-loss treatments seem too good to be true.