The Bench · what it is, and what it costs · updated August 2026
Compounded semaglutide, plainly explained.
What it is, its FDA status, how to vet the pharmacy behind it, and the disclosed monthly prices on our roster. Partners are surfaced first on the board below, as they are everywhere we rank on this site.
What "compounded" means here
Compounded semaglutide is prepared by a licensed compounding pharmacy for an individual prescription rather than manufactured by Novo Nordisk. Compounding itself is legal and long-standing; it is a different regulatory track than FDA approval, not a shortcut around it. The FDA does not verify the safety, effectiveness or quality of a compounded drug the way it does for an approved product like Wegovy — that gap is the whole reason the price differs.
503A pharmacies compound for an individual patient against a specific prescription, overseen primarily by state boards of pharmacy. 503B outsourcing facilities register with the FDA, follow federal current good manufacturing practice standards, and can produce larger batches — a stronger federal quality signal, though neither category makes an FDA-approved drug. A provider that can name which type of pharmacy fills your prescription is being transparent with you. For the fuller regulatory picture, including the FDA shortage rule that opened the compounded market at scale, see is compounded semaglutide legit and safe.
Disclosed prices, partners listed first
The 8 rows below are the top of our full annual ranking, partitioned partners-first — see our disclosure. Within each block, rows still run cheapest-to-most-expensive by twelve-month cost. For every disclosed provider on the full roster, see cheapest semaglutide over 12 months.
- 01
OrderlyMeds
Coverage not published · Index 70 C
$888 / 12 mo
- 02
OurView Health
Coverage not published · Index 62 C
$900 / 12 mo
- 03
Embody
All 50 states · Index 81 B−
$948 / 12 mo
- 04
NuuVim
Coverage not published · Index 69 C
$948 / 12 mo
- 05
Good Girl Rx
All 50 states · Index 68 C
$948 / 12 mo
- 06
RxPepsDirect
28 states · Index 60 C
$948 / 12 mo
- 07
Potere Health MD
1 state · Index 59 C
$960 / 12 mo
- 08
PreventiveMD
36 states · Index 77 C
$996 / 12 mo
Want the FDA-approved brand instead? See what Wegovy and Ozempic actually cost — roughly $16,188/yr at Novo Nordisk's cash list price for Wegovy, before you compare it against the compounded figures above.
Compounded semaglutide, answered
- What is compounded semaglutide?
- A version of semaglutide — the active molecule in Novo Nordisk's FDA-approved Wegovy and Ozempic — prepared by a licensed compounding pharmacy rather than manufactured by Novo Nordisk. Compounding is legal and regulated, but a compounded product is not FDA-approved and the FDA does not verify its safety, effectiveness or quality the way it does for Wegovy.
- Is compounded semaglutide legal?
- Yes, from a licensed 503A pharmacy compounding for an individual patient or a registered 503B outsourcing facility under federal manufacturing standards. Large-scale compounding of a commercially available drug is generally permitted while that drug sits on the FDA's drug shortage list, which is what opened the door to semaglutide compounding at scale. As shortages resolve, the rules on who may compound it can tighten, so buy from a provider that is current and transparent about sourcing.
- How much does compounded semaglutide cost?
- Across the providers we track that disclose a semaglutide price, the cheapest annual figure on this board is about $888 a year (roughly $74/mo) — against Wegovy's roughly $16,188-a-year cash list price for the FDA-approved brand. The full ranked board, every disclosed provider, is at cheapest semaglutide over 12 months.
- Is compounded semaglutide the same as Wegovy or Ozempic?
- The active molecule is usually the same on paper. The regulatory status is not: Wegovy and Ozempic are Novo Nordisk's FDA-approved products, reviewed for safety, effectiveness and manufacturing quality. A compounded version is a different product from a compounding pharmacy, not FDA-reviewed. See what Wegovy and Ozempic actually cost if brand access matters more to you than price.
- How do I tell a legitimate compounded semaglutide provider from a risky one?
- Check for LegitScript certification, a compounding pharmacy you can name and look up, licensed clinician review before prescribing, real dose titration, and clear sourcing disclosure. Our full checklist is in is compounded medication legit and safe.
The other boards
- Cheapest semaglutide over 12 months — the full board this page's top picks are drawn from, every disclosed provider.
- Compounded tirzepatide — the same explainer and board, for tirzepatide instead.
- Wegovy & Ozempic cost — the brand-first answer, if FDA approval matters more to you than price.
Related reading: is compounded semaglutide legit and safe, compounded vs brand-name GLP-1 cost, or what compounded GLP-1 actually costs per month.
Prices are each provider's public disclosures at last check and move fast — confirm before you buy. Compounded medications are not FDA-approved. Not medical advice; see our medical disclaimer.