(NewsNation) — Ro, an American telehealth company, has come up with a solution to help diabetic patients looking for medications containing Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) — like Ozempic and Wegovy — amid a nationwide supply shortage.
The company created a free online tool that allows real people to report diabetes drug shortages in their areas as well as report when they are in stock. The tool, an interactive map, lights up with a yellow lightning bolt every few seconds, indicating where users have reported GLP-1 medication availability and shortages.
While these types of treatments are more accessible than they have been in years prior, one misunderstanding about them is that they’re easy to get.
Almost all dosages of the four brand names are listed as “currently in shortage” by the FDA. Eli Lilly, the pharmaceutical company behind Zepbound and Mounjaro, told NBC News supply issues could last into 2025.
Plus, roughly 15.5 million U.S. adults use the medications as weight loss drugs, meaning limited availability is a top issue.