Some patients fear that they’ll lose access to tirzepatide because the US Food and Drug Administration determined that a shortage of the brand-name drug has ended – which means compounding of the medicine must stop.

Popular weight-loss medications including Ozempic and Wegovy contain a drug that seems to decrease cravings for food and drugs – and now there’s evidence that it might make exercise less rewarding, to

WeightWatchers will begin selling compounded alternatives to certain weight-loss drugs that are experiencing shortages. Why it matters: Federal law allows companies to sell compounded versions of drugs that are on the FDA's shortages list — which has led to a surge of copycats to the newly popular class of GLP-1 injections.

Still, more than a quarter of employers are considering adding coverage for GLP-1 drugs for weight loss in 2025 or 2026, according to a national survey conducted this year by Mercer, a human resources consulting firm.

WW International (NASDAQ:WW), more commonly known as WeightWatchers, will now offer compounded semaglutide to its WeightWatchers Clinic members, expanding the accessibility of popular weight loss medications to its members at a more affordable price.