What's the difference between brand-name and compounded GLP-1 medications?

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Brand-name GLP-1 medications (Wegovy®, Ozempic®, Zepbound®, Mounjaro®) are FDA-approved products made by the manufacturer and bought through programs like NovoCare® or LillyDirect™. Compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide are prepared by licensed U.S. compounding pharmacies for an individual patient and are not FDA-approved. Which one is right for you is a clinical decision made by your physician, not a cost decision. Brand-name GLP-1s are FDA-approved and manufactured in fixed doses and delivery devices. With GOAL.MD's Brand-Name Access program you pay $95/month for physician supervision and buy the medication directly from the manufacturer's cash program. Compounded medications are personalized formulations prepared by licensed U.S. 503A or 503B pharmacies based on your physician's prescription. They are prescribed only when your physician determines a commercially available product does not meet your individual clinical needs — for example, a specific dose or formulation. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved. Cost should never be the reason to choose a compounded medication. Your physician evaluates your history, goals, and clinical factors to recommend the most appropriate option.