Official communication about our medicines
containing semaglutide from Novo Nordisk
This site is intended for a US audience

Patient Safety

Our Medicines

ILLEGAL MASS COMPOUNDING

Mass compounding GLP-1s is not proven to be safe or effective at any price. Read more about what Novo Nordisk is doing to protect patients from unproven, potentially unsafe knockoffs.

Compounded “semaglutide”: a public health risk

Learn more about the numerous organizations and experts that have sounded the alarm on compounded products claiming to contain semaglutide.

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As of January 1, 2026:

government agencies and officials^1-13

state boards of pharmacy and medicine^14-29

public health organizations^30-44

have published statements related to the risks or are calling for urgent action to protect patients from unapproved products.

Brookings Institution

"American patients deserve to have their drugs be safe and effective…. Right now, that is far from guaranteed, with patients having no visibility as to who is making their products and whether they are using reasonable standards to assure the quality of their products."³²

Center for Medicine in the Public Interest

"Selling these unapproved drugs with untested alterations or combinations is effectively a mass experiment on unsuspecting patients—a clear and present danger to public health."³³

Federal Bureau of Investigation (FBI)

"Some healthcare providers are using compounded mixtures of unknown drugs that do not contain semaglutide, drugs with high levels of impurities, and unsafe or unapproved drugs."⁴

National Association of Attorneys General

“Much like with counterfeit versions, these active ingredients come from unregulated, undisclosed sources and pose risks of contamination and inclusion of foreign substances.”¹²

The Partnership for Safe Medicines

"Our report reveals these knockoff GLP-1s may contain active ingredients from unregulated, overseas manufacturers that are not…suitable for human use."⁴³

U.S. Food and Drug Administration

"Compounded drugs pose a higher risk to patients than FDA-approved drugs because compounded drugs do not undergo FDA premarket review for safety, quality or effectiveness."¹²

Expert alerts

(as of January 1, 2026):

Alabama Board of Pharmacy

Alabama State Board of Pharmacy Newsletter to Promote Pharmacy and Drug Law Compliance (November 2023)

Alabama State Board of Medical Examiners

Concerns with Semaglutide and Other GLP-1 Receptor Agonists (September 9, 2023)
Declaratory Ruling of the Alabama State Board of Medical Examiners (August 8, 2024)

America’s Poison Centers

Glucagon-like Peptide-1 (GLP-1) Agonists (February 28, 2025)

American Diabetes Association

The American Diabetes Association Announces Statement on Compounded Incretin Products (December 2, 2024)

American Medical Association

Online Advertising of Compounded Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists (January 17, 2025)
Marketing and Safety Concerns for Compounded GLP-1 Receptor Agonists (January 17, 2025)

Australia

Media Release, Mark Butler, Minister for Health and Aged Care, Australia Department of Health and Aged Care, Protecting Australians from unsafe compounding of replica weight loss products (May 22, 2024)

Brazil

ANVISA, Despacho No. 97 (August 22, 2025)

Brookings Institution

The Wild East of semaglutide (April 21, 2025)

Center for Medicine in the Public Interest

FDA Regulatory Failures in Enforcing Limits on GLP-1 Compounding Puts Patients at Risk (July 21, 2025)

Canada

Health Canada, Health Canada’s position on the unauthorized manufacturing of products sold as compounded glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists (June 2, 2025).

Endocrine Society

Webinar will examine concerns around compounding anti-obesity medications (November 06, 2024)

Federal Bureau of Investigation

Safety Concerns Related to Fraudulent Compounding Practices Associated with Weight Loss Drugs (March 20, 2025)

Food and Drug Administration (U.S.)

Health Professions Bureau of the Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses

Compounding Letter (May 24, 2024)

Illinois Attorney General

Attorney General Raoul Reminds Illinois Residents to be Vigilant When Seeking GLP-1 Drugs for Weight Loss (January 3, 2025)

Illinois Department of Financial & Professional Regulation

Consumer Alert: Compounded Weight Loss Drugs (Summer 2024)

Kansas Board of Pharmacy

Statement on Compounding and Dispensing of Compounded Semaglutide and Other GLP-1 Receptor Agonists (April 25, 2024)

Louisiana Board of Pharmacy

States threaten crackdown on copycat versions of Ozempic and Wegovy (May 3, 2023)

Minnesota Board of Pharmacy

Newsletter: Semaglutide and GLP-1 Drugs (July 2024)

Mississippi Board of Pharmacy

Compounded Products Due to Shortage or Due to Special Patient Needs (April 22, 2023)

Mississippi State Board of Medical Licensure

Guidance Regarding Semaglutide-Based Medications From the Mississippi State Board of Medical Licensure (August 29, 2023)

National Academies of the Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine

New Weight Loss Drugs (GLP-1s) Explained: Science, Impact, Potential (November 21, 2024)

National Association of Attorneys General

State and Territory Attorneys General Urge FDA to Take Action Against Counterfeit and Illegally Sold GLP-1 Drugs (February 19, 2025)

National Consumers League

NCL urges the public to heed warnings about unregulated versions of GLP-1 weight loss drugs (February 4, 2025)

New Jersey Board of Pharmacy

STATEMENT CONCERNING SEMAGLUTIDE COMPOUNDING (November 6, 2023)

Obesity Action Coalition

We Understand the Struggle: Why Compounded GLP-1 Medications Aren’t the Answer (May 31, 2024)
Obesity Care Organizations Issue Joint Statement: Do Not Use Compounded Alternatives to GLP-1 Medications (January 9, 2024)
Letter to FDA Acting Commissioner Brenner (March 20, 2025)

Obesity Medicine Association

Obesity Medicine Association Issues a Position Statement on Compounded Peptides (March 30, 2023)

The Obesity Society

The Obesity Society commends FDA's resolution of obesity drug shortages, calls for enforcement against unauthorized compounding (February 26, 2025)

Ohio Attorney General

AG Yost Warns Med Spas: Stop Misleading Consumers About Weight-Loss Drugs (April 16, 2025)

Ohio Board of Pharmacy

e-News: FDA Alerts Health Care Providers, Compounders, and Patients of Dosing Errors Associated with Compounded Injectable Semaglutide Products (August 2024)

Oregon Board of Pharmacy

Statement on Semaglutide (February 6, 2025)

The Partnership for Safe Medicines

Pediatric Endocrine Society

Statement on use of compounded semaglutide and other GLP-1 receptor agonists (January 16, 2024)

South Africa

SAHPRA’s Position On GLP1 And GIP-GLP1 Products That Are Compounded, Substandard and Falsified (November 8, 2024)

South Carolina Attorney General

CONSUMER ALERT: Attorney General Alan Wilson warns consumers to be cautious when purchasing unapproved and compounded weight loss medications (January 3, 2025)

South Dakota Board of Pharmacy

South Dakota Board of Pharmacy Newsletter to Promote Pharmacy and Drug Compliance (January 2024)

United States Senate

Letter from Senator Jim Banks, U.S. Senate, to Acting Commissioner Sara Brenner, U.S. Food and Drug Administration (March 25, 2025)

Utah Board of Pharmacy

Newsletter: Compounded Semaglutide – Cautions and Concerns (May 2024)

Washington State Department of Health

Statement on Compounding Semaglutide (August 22, 2024)

West Virginia Board of Pharmacy

STATEMENT CONCERNING SEMAGLUTIDE COMPOUNDING (April 2023)

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FDA-approved treatments exist.

Learn more about the only FDA-approved medicines containing semaglutide.

See Our Medicines

References:

1. Australian Government, Department of Health and Aged Care. Protecting Australians from unsafe compounding of replica weight loss products. May 22, 2024. Accessed November 26, 2025. https://www.health.gov.au/ministers/the-hon-mark-butler-mp/media/protecting-australians-from-unsafe-compounding-of-replica-weight-loss-products?language=en. 

2. Banks, Jim. United States Senate. Letter to FDA acting commissioner. March 25, 2025. Accessed May 31, 2025. https://www.nationalreview.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/03/Banks-Letter-to-FDA.pdf.

3. Brazilian National Health Surveillance Agency. Order No. 97, Dated August 22, 2025. Accessed November 26, 2025. https://www.in.gov.br/web/dou/-/despacho-n-97-de-22-de-agosto-de-2025-650500119.

4. Federal Bureau of Investigation. Safety concerns related to fraudulent compounding practices associated with weight loss drugs. February 28, 2025. Accessed May 31, 2025. https://www.ic3.gov/PSA/2025/PSA250228.

5. Health Canada. Health Canada’s position on the unauthorized manufacturing of products sold as compounded glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists. June 27, 2025. Accessed November 26, 2025. https://www.bcpharmacists.org/news/health-canada%E2%80%99s-position-unauthorized-manufacturing-products-sold-compounded-glucagon-peptide-1.

6. Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation. Consumer alert: compounded weight loss drugs. Summer 2024. Accessed October 16, 2025. https://idfpr.illinois.gov/content/dam/soi/en/web/idfpr/forms/dpr/medical-minute-summer-2024.pdf.  

7. National Association of Attorneys General. State and territory attorneys general urge FDA to take action against counterfeit and illegally sold GLP-1 drugs. February 19, 2025. Accessed May 31, 2025. https://www.naag.org/press-releases/state-and-territory-attorneys-general-urge-fda-to-take-action-against-counterfeit-and-illegally-sold-glp-1-drugs/. (Reflecting 38 Attorneys General and one national organization).

8. Office of the Illinois Attorney General. Updated consumer alert — Attorney General Raoul reminds Illinois residents to be vigilant when seeking GLP-1 drugs for weight loss. January 03, 2025. Accessed November 26, 2025. https://illinoisattorneygeneral.gov/news/story/updated-consumer-alertattorney-general-raoul-reminds-illinois-residents-to-be-vigilant-when-seeking-glp-1-drugs-for-weight-loss.

9. South African Health Products Regulatory Authority. SHPRA’s Position on GLP1 and GIP-GLP1 Products That Are Compounded, Substandard and Falsified. November 8, 2024. Accessed November 26, 2025. https://www.sahpra.org.za/news-and-updates/sahpras-position-on-glp1-and-gip-glp1-products-that-are-compounded-substandard-and-falsifiedas/.

10. South Carolina Office of the Attorney General. Consumer alert: Attorney General Alan Wilson warns consumers to be cautious when purchasing unapproved and compounded weight-loss medications. January 3, 2025. Accessed May 31, 2025.  https://www.scag.gov/about-the-office/news/consumer-alert-attorney-general-alan-wilson-warns-consumers-to-be-cautious-when-purchasing-unapproved-and-compounded-weight-loss-medications/.

11. United States House of Representatives Committee on Oversight and Government Reform. Statement of David Kessler, Restoring trust in FDA: rooting out illicit products. April 9, 2025. Accessed November 26, 2025. https://www.congress.gov/event/119th-congress/house-event/118131/text?q=%7B%22search%22%3A%22%E2%80%A2%5CtStatement+of+David+Kessler%2C+Restoring+Trust+in+FDA%3A+Rooting+Out+Illicit+Products%22%7D&s=1&r=1.

12. United States Food and Drug Administration. FDA alerts health care providers, compounders, and patients on dosing errors associated with compounded semaglutide. July 26, 2024. Accessed November 26, 2025. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/human-drug-compounding/fda-alerts-health-care-providers-compounders-and-patients-dosing-errors-associated-compounded.

13. Washington State Department of Health. Statement on compounding semaglutide. August 22, 2024. Accessed May 31, 2025. https://content.govdelivery.com/accounts/WADOH/bulletins/3b13be6.

14. Alabama Board of Pharmacy. Compounding semaglutide. November 2023. Accessed May 31, 2025. https://nabp.pharmacy/wp-content/uploads/2023/11/November-2023-Alabama-State-Newsletter.pdf.

15. Alabama State Board of Medical Examiners. Declaratory ruling of the Alabama State Board of Medical Examiners. August 8, 2024. Accessed May 31, 2025. https://www.albme.gov/uploads/pdfs/BOPSemaglutide.DeclaratoryRuling_.pdf.

16. Health Professions Bureau of the Idaho Division of Occupational and Professional Licenses. Clinic dispensing of GLP-1 products. May 24, 2024. Accessed May 31, 2025. https://dopl.idaho.gov/wp-content/uploads/2024/06/Compounding-Letter.pdf.

17. Kansas Board of Pharmacy. Statement on compounding and dispensing of compounded semaglutide and other GLP-1 receptor agonists. April 25, 2024. Accessed May 31, 2025. https://www.pharmacy.ks.gov/home/showpublisheddocument/9120/638804875360800000.

18 Kentucky Board of Pharmacy. GLP-1 compounding guidance 2025. Accessed December 2025. https://pharmacy.ky.gov/professionals/Documents/GLP-1%20Compounding%20Guidance%202025.pdf.

19. Farris M. Low-cost weight loss drug banned in La. 4WWL. April 27, 2023. Accessed May 31, 2025. https://www.wwltv.com/article/news/health/weight-loss-wednesday/low-cost-weight-loss-drug-banned/289-d2608b63-f8c2-4eb4-9982-0530331d50ea. (Reflecting ban by Louisiana Board of Pharmacy).

20. Minnesota Board of Pharmacy. Semaglutide and GLP-1 drugs. July 2024. Accessed October 16, 2025. https://nabp.pharmacy/wp-content/uploads/2024/07/July-2024-Minnesota-State-Newsletter.pdf. 

21. Mississippi Board of Pharmacy. Compounded products due to shortage or due to special patient needs. Accessed May 31, 2025. https://www.mbp.ms.gov/sites/default/files/inline-images/Semaglutide.compoundguidance%20%28002%29.pdf.

22. Mississippi State Board Of Medical Licensure. Guidance regarding semaglutide-based medications. August 29, 2023. Accessed May 31, 2025. https://www.msbml.ms.gov/sites/default/files/news/Semaglutide%20Guidance%2008-29-23.pdf.

23. New Jersey Board of Pharmacy. Statement concerning semaglutide. November 6, 2023. Accessed May 31, 2025. https://www.njconsumeraffairs.gov/phar/Documents/Semaglutide-Compounding-Statement-04282023.pdf.

24. North Carolina Board of Pharmacy. Statement concerning semaglutide compounding. April 2023. Accessed May 31, 2025. https://www.ncbop.org/downloads/SemaglutideCompounding.pdf.

25. Ohio Board of Pharmacy. FDA alerts health care providers, compounders, and patients of dosing errors associated with compounded injectable semaglutide products. August 2024. Accessed October 16, 2025. https://www.pharmacy.ohio.gov/documents/pubs/messages/2024-08-13%20e-news%20august%202024.pdf.

26. Oregon Board of Pharmacy. Statement on semaglutide. February 6, 2025. Accessed May 31, 2025. https://www.oregon.gov/pharmacy/pages/position-statements.aspx.

27. South Dakota Board of Pharmacy. Beware of fraud and counterfeit popular weight loss products. January 2024. Accessed May 31, 2025.  https://doh.sd.gov/media/5urllipf/january-2024-south-dakota-state-news.pdf.

28. Utah Board of Pharmacy. Compounded semaglutide – cautions and concerns. May 2024. Accessed October 16, 2025. https://nabp.pharmacy/wp-content/uploads/2024/05/May-2024-Utah-State-Newsletter.pdf.

29. West Virginia Board of Pharmacy. Statement concerning semaglutide compounding. April 2023. Accessed May 31, 2025. https://www.wvbop.com/admin/attachment/FINALSemaglutideCompoundingStatement21APR2023WVBoPdatedFV.pdf.

30. America’s Poison Centers. Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) agonists. February 28, 2025. Accessed May 31, 2025. https://poisoncenters.org/track/GLP-1.

31. American Diabetes Association. The American Diabetes Association announces statement on compounded incretin products. December 2, 2024. Accessed May 31, 2025. https://diabetes.org/newsroom/press-releases/american-diabetes-association-announces-statement-compounded-incretin.

32. Brookings Institution. The wild east of semaglutide. April 21, 2025. Accessed May 31, 2025. https://www.brookings.edu/articles/the-wild-east-of-semaglutide/.

33. Center for Medicine in the Public Interest. FDA regulatory failures in enforcing limits on GLP-1 compounding puts patients at risk. July 21, 2025. Accessed October 16, 2025. https://cmpi.org/in-the-news/fda-regulatory-failures-in-enforcing-limits-on-glp-1-compounding-puts-patients-at-risk.

34. Endocrine Society. Webinar will examine concerns around compounding anti-obesity medications. November 6, 2024. Accessed May 31, 2025. https://www.endocrine.org/news-and-advocacy/news-room/2024/webinar-will-examine-concerns-around-compounding-anti-obesity-medications.

35. Maryland Poison Control. What you should know about semaglutide. March 2024. Accessed May 31, 2025. https://blog.mdpoison.com/2024/03/semaglutide/. 

36. Mattingly TJ, Conti RM. Marketing and Safety Concerns for Compounded GLP-1 Receptor Agonists. JAMA Health Forum. 2025;6(1):e245015. doi:10.1001/jamahealthforum.2024.5015. 

37. National Academies of the Sciences, Engineering, and Medicine. New weight loss drugs (GLP-1s) explained: science, impact, potential. November 21, 2024. Accessed May 31, 2025. https://www.nationalacademies.org/event/43965_11-2024_new-weight-loss-drugs-glp-1s-explained-science-impact-potential. 

38. National Capital Poison Center. What is Ozempic? December 25, 2023. Accessed May 31, 2025. https://www.poison.org/articles/can-ozempic-help-me-lose-weight.

39. National Consumers League. NCL urges the public to heed warnings about unregulated versions of GLP-1 weight loss drugs. February 4, 2025. Accessed May 31, 2025. https://nclnet.org/the-national-consumers-league-urges-the-public-to-heed-warnings-about-unregulated-versions-of-glp-1-weight-loss-drugs/.

40. Obesity Action Coalition. Letter to FDA acting commissioner. March 20, 2025. Accessed May 31, 2025. https://www.obesityaction.org/wp-content/uploads/FDA-Sign-On-Letter-reduced-size.pdf. (Representing 19 organizations and three healthcare professionals).

41. Obesity Medicine Association. Obesity Medicine Association issues a position statement on compounded peptides. March 30, 2023. Accessed May 31, 2025. https://obesitymedicine.org/blog/obesity-medicine-association-issues-a-position-statement-on-compounded-peptides/.

42. The Obesity Society. The Obesity Society commends FDA’s resolution of obesity drug shortages, calls for enforcement against unauthorized compounding. February 26, 2025. Accessed May 31, 2025. https://www.eurekalert.org/news-releases/1075075.

43. The Partnership for Safe Medicines. New report reveals illegal ingredients for knockoff wight loss drugs flooding into U.S. from foreign sources, endangering patient safety. February 20, 2025. Accessed May 31, 2025. https://www.safemedicines.org/2025/02/new-report-reveals-illegal-ingredients-for-knockoff-weight-loss-drugs-flooding-into-u-s-from-foreign-sources-endangering-patient-safety.html.

44. Pediatric Endocrine Society. Statement on use of compounded semaglutide and other GLP-1 receptor agonists. January 1, 2024. Accessed May 31, 2025. https://pedsendo.org/drug-shortages/statement-on-use-of-compounded-semaglutide-and-other-glp-1-receptor-agonists/.