Compounded pharmaceutical products are medications prepared by a licensed pharmacist or healthcare provider and which are intended for people with specific needs relating to their prescription (e.g., for someone who may have an allergy to an ingredient or if a different dose is required).

Novo Nordisk is the only company with Health Canada-approved medicines containing semaglutide and does not directly or indirectly provide or sell any of its medicines to compounding pharmacies. Therefore, compounding pharmacies purporting to sell compounded “semaglutide” are using an active pharmaceutical ingredient that has not been assessed by Health Canada and the safety and efficacy of these compounded products have not been established. This may expose patients to health risks.