Ozempic and other similar weight reducing drugs are expensive, threatening to bankrupt self-funded health plans due to high demand. A year’s supply of Ozemic costs more than $10,000.
Now we see Ozyempic selling for a lot less, sold through retail pharmacies, the internet, and (believe it or not) through retail businesses including hair salons.
How’s that possible?
When the FDA determines there is a shortage of a commercially available drug like Ozempic they are listed on the FDA’s Drug Shortage Listing. The FDA allows compounding pharmacies to produce a version of these drugs in order to address supply constraints only for as long as they appear on the FDA’s drug shortage listing.
Two semaglutide injections, Ozempic and Wegovy, are affected by shortages and currently listed. This has resulted in significant savings for consumers since patent protection is temporarily waived.
Once the FDA determines a shortage no longer exists prices will once again enjoy artificial protection with pricing set by patent holders.
“Overriding drug patents and lowering prices based on low supply and high demand seems counter intuitive…..”
