The Wild East of semaglutide (Brookings)

Marta Wosińska’s analysis in the Brookings Institution spotlights serious concerns surrounding the unregulated compounding of semaglutide, a GLP-1 drug widely used for weight loss. Although the FDA recently declared approved semaglutide no longer in shortage, a booming market for cheaper, compounded versions—often made from bulk powder sourced from largely unregulated Chinese suppliers—continues. The absence of a U.S. Pharmacopeia (USP) quality standard means many manufacturers set their own specifications, increasing risks of impurities and substandard production.