Americans are consuming weight-loss drugs Ozempic and Wegovy so fast that a telehealth company developed a free tool to help patients find their next dose.
The new tracker, which telehealth company Ro announced Wednesday, allows users to report when they find a pharmacy with the drugs, known as GLP-1s, in stock. Users can also report shortages to help inform others. The tool is free for everyone and not limited to Ro customers.
Along with crowdsourced information from users, the tool also pulls data from the Food and Drug Administration’s Drug Shortage List. Users can report shortages directly to the FDA through the tracker if they choose to.
To help patients get their medicine, they can set up automated alerts to notify them when a pharmacy in their area has the drugs in stock. The alert includes information to help them transfer their prescriptions as well. If the user is a Ro customer, the company can transfer their prescription for them.
Courtesy of Ro
Ro’s CEO, Zachariah Reitano, stated that the new tracker is assisting patients in navigating shortages with GLP-1s, which are used to treat conditions like diabetes but have gained popularity for their weight loss benefits.
The shortages caused by high demand have led some patients to travel long distances to find pharmacies with the medications in stock. Social media has also been used by some to help each other locate the drugs.
“The GLP-1 shortage challenges are exacerbated by a lack of accurate, up-to-date, and accessible GLP-1 supply information. Patients deserve better,” Reitano said in a statement.
Ro’s chief medical officer, Dr. Melynda Barnes, mentioned that the tracker can also help doctors make more informed decisions about treatment options.
“Providers can use the GLP-1 Supply Tracker to stay informed about supply so that they can best counsel their patients on the most clinically appropriate and reliably available GLP-1 treatment,” she said.
The GLP-1 shortages have prompted some health companies, such as Ro and Hims & Hers, to develop lower-cost alternatives, permitted through an exception to FDA rules, to meet demand. For example, Ro’s compounded treatment uses the same active ingredient as GLP-1s and costs $299 a month, compared to Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy which can cost over $1,300 without insurance.
