Evidence map›Paper›PMID 39776466›Full record

ArticleJournal of pharmaceutical policy and practice2025

Compounded glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists for weight loss: the direct-to-consumer market in Colorado.

Michael J DiStefano, Mouna Dardouri, Gina D Moore, Joseph J Saseen, Kavita V Nair

Abstract read
In one paragraph

Article in Journal of pharmaceutical policy and practice, 2025. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Cited by 8 papers, 1 of them a synthesis that pooled it.

0numbers the graph read from it
0cells of the map it votes in
8citing papers in PubMed, 1 pooled it
–field-weighted citation impact
1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

8 citing papers in PubMed, 1 synthesis or guideline pooled it.

  1. Pooled it
  2. Review
  3. Article
  4. Review
  5. Article
  6. Review
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  8. Review
4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

5 authors.

Michael J DiStefanoDepartment of Clinical Pharmacy, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5021-5347
Mouna DardouriDepartment of Clinical Pharmacy, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA.
Gina D MooreDepartment of Clinical Pharmacy, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0002-2096-1058
Joseph J SaseenDepartment of Clinical Pharmacy, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA.ORCID https://orcid.org/0000-0003-0341-5140
Kavita V NairDepartment of Clinical Pharmacy, Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences, University of Colorado Anschutz Medical Campus, Aurora, CO, USA.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

Background: High prices and other access barriers have contributed to the rise of a market for compounded glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists for weight loss in the United States. This market has not been systematically studied. We conducted a pilot study to assess the prevalence, characteristics, and advertising content of direct-to-consumer providers of compounded glucagon-like peptide-1 products for weight loss in Colorado. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of websites advertising compounded glucagon-like peptide-1 products for weight loss in Colorado. Websites were identified using Google searches focused on census-defined statistical areas. Searches were conducted between March 21 and April 12, 2024. Data collected from websites included physical addresses, business type, highest reported staff credential, advertised glucagon-like peptide-1 products, whether businesses referred to Food and Drug Administration approval when describing products, and whether businesses referred to products as 'generic'. Results: We identified 93 business websites advertising compounded glucagon-like peptide-1 products for weight loss corresponding to 188 physical locations throughout Colorado. Most businesses were self-categorized as medical/health spas (33/93) or weight loss services (26/93). Advertised products included semaglutide (92/93), tirzepatide (40/93), liraglutide (2/93), and retatrutide (1/93). Advertised combination products included B vitamins (8/93), levocarnitine (1/93), mannitol (1/93), BPC-157 (1/93), and glycine (1/93). Seven websites advertised oral formulations. Additionally, 41/93 websites referred to Food and Drug Administration approval in their descriptions of compounded products and 5/93 referred to products as 'generic'. Conclusion: This study identified several instances of unapproved glucagon-like peptide-1 products being compounded and advertised in Colorado. Additionally, 1 product was advertised as compounded with BPC-157, a substance determined by the Food and Drug Administration to be unsafe for compounding. This study also identified numerous examples of misleading claims regarding the regulatory status of compounded glucagon-like peptide-1 products. Regulatory action is needed to ensure the benefits of compounded GLP-1 products outweigh the risks.

Indexed as

Advertisingcompoundeddirect-to-consumerGLP-1obesitysemaglutidetirzepatideweight loss

Identifiers

PMID39776466
PMCPMC11703442

What OpenQuestion holds

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LicenceCC BY
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Registered trials

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.