Ro Launches GLP-1 Supply Tracker to Help Patients Find Weight Loss and Diabetes Drugs Amid Shortages

Ro, a telehealth company, has launched a new supply tracker to help patients find GLP-1 drugs amid shortages in the US. GLP-1s are a popular class of weight loss and diabetes medications that have experienced a surge in demand over the past year. The tracker aims to provide transparent and accessible information about GLP-1 supply, including drug availability, dose size, and pharmacy location.

The shortage of GLP-1 medications has been described as a “national healthcare crisis” by Ro’s co-founder and CEO, Zachariah Reitano. He believes that many people are not fully aware of the impact of this shortage on patients who rely on these life-altering medications. By making the supply tracker available to everyone, Ro hopes to contribute to the broader community and increase access to GLP-1s.

The tracker allows anyone, including doctors, to submit updates about the availability or shortage of GLP-1s at specific pharmacies. Users can also choose to automatically report this information to the FDA. Ro will update the tracker based on its own supply data and information from the FDA. The company has been building the tracker for about two months and aims to provide real-time data to help doctors make informed decisions about prescribing medications.

Patients can sign up to receive automated email alerts about the availability of specific GLP-1 drugs at nearby pharmacies. The tracker also alerts patients about changes in the supply of GLP-1s on the FDA’s drug shortage database. Patients can request that their prescription be transferred to another pharmacy with available supply, and Ro’s care team is available to assist with prescription transfers.

Ro has been helping patients treat obesity since 2020 and launched the Ro Body Program, which focuses on GLP-1 medications, in early 2021. The company has experienced challenges due to the shortage of these medications, including temporarily pausing advertising for the program and offering refunds and credits to patients who couldn’t pick up their prescriptions. Ro hopes that the supply tracker will make it easier for patients and providers to find GLP-1 supply and inform the FDA about shortages in real time.

Reitano’s ultimate goal is for the supply tracker to become “useless” in three years as more GLP-1 supply becomes available and alleviates shortages. In the meantime, the tracker will provide valuable information for patients and healthcare providers, helping them navigate the current shortage crisis.