FDA drug shortage list
Clinical reviewer: Jacob Moore, MD · Last checked September 16, 2026
What is the FDA drug shortage list?
FDA drug shortage list is a public database of drugs FDA has determined are in shortage in the United States, updated daily with new and resolved shortages. It lists drug names, NDC numbers, applicant, shortage reason and estimated duration, and it is the reference FDA points to when it declares a shortage resolved.
How does FDA define and resolve a drug shortage?
FDA defines a drug shortage as "a period of time when the demand or projected demand for the drug within the United States exceeds the supply of the drug" [1]. FDA considers a shortage resolved once it determines supply is no longer exceeded by demand or projected demand [1]. The agency draws on input from manufacturers, patients, healthcare providers and others, including compounders, to track shortages [1]. FDA maintains a public list of drugs it has determined are in shortage, giving drug names, NDC numbers, applicant, shortage reason and estimated duration, updated daily with new and resolved shortages [1].
Why does the shortage list matter for GLP-1 compounding?
FDA determined semaglutide's injection shortage resolved on February 21, 2025, and tirzepatide's resolved on December 19, 2024 [2]. Both drugs have since come off FDA's shortage list [2]. That matters because pharmacies compounding under section 503A can lose enforcement discretion tied to a drug's shortage-list status once the shortage ends [2]. See 503A compounding pharmacy for how that enforcement discretion works.
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This entry is for education and is not medical advice. Talk with a licensed clinician about your own situation before starting, stopping, or changing any treatment.
