§ Regulatory & Safety
FDA Shortage List
An FDA-maintained list of drugs in short supply; compounded versions are legal only while a drug is on this list.
Fact-checked 12 May 2026Plain-English Reference
Under section 503A of the FD&C Act, traditional compounding pharmacies cannot prepare a copy of an FDA-approved drug unless that drug is listed on the FDA's drug shortage database. When the FDA removes a drug from the list, the legal pathway for compounded copies effectively closes — a risk telehealth patients should track for compounded GLP-1s in particular.