Compounding pharmacies can make generic semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic and Wegovy. It's a synthetic chemical, so the medication should be functionally equivalent, although the FDA points out that in some cases compounding pharmacies make the wrong thing/dosage [1]. When done this way, the drug is not FDA-approved. But may be worth a shot.
Manufacturers are also complaining about patent infringement [1], so we will see how long this practice lasts.
[1] https://www.fda.gov/drugs/postmarket-drug-safety-information...
[2] https://www.npr.org/sections/shots-health-news/2024/11/20/nx...