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Compounded vs. Branded GLP-1s: Understanding the Price Differences
Learn why compounded versions cost less — and the risks that come with the price tag.
Written by Marisa Taylor Karas | Reviewed by Alyssa Billingsley, PharmD
Published on May 13, 2025In this video, learn why branded GLP-1 medications (like Mounjaro, Zepbound, Ozempic, and Wegovy) may cost more than compounded versions, and what makes branded versions safer.
Additional Medical Contributors
- Stacia Woodcock, PharmDStacia Woodcock, PharmD, is a pharmacy editor for GoodRx. She earned her Doctor of Pharmacy degree from the University of Kentucky and is licensed in New York and Massachusetts.
References
Collins, L., et al. (2024). Glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists. StatPearls.
Sertkaya, A., et al. (2024). Costs of drug development and research and development intensity in the US, 2000-2018. JAMA Network Open.
View All References (3)
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2024). 7 things to know about drug shortage management.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2024). Compounding and the FDA: Questions and answers.
U.S. Food and Drug Administration. (2024). FDA: User fees explained.
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