Sabina Hemmi is one of the people I most respect in this space. She is what the cool kids are calling “the real ones.”
I first met Sabina when I launched the petition for affordable access and still had no idea what I was doing. We became instant friends, and a year later here we are, together in the trenches, on the frontline of healthcare policy and patient advocacy.
Key Details:
Sabina is the founder of GLP Winner which is a transparent comparison site for GLP-1 clinics
There are several state bills and a federal bill threatening access to compounded glp-1 medications.
Some of these bills target compounded medications in general. This includes medications specially made for cats, dogs, end of life care, kids, the list goes on.
Call, email, visit your local legislature to share your story and let them know how these bills concern you.
Visit GLP-1 Studio to see the latest updates for each bill.
Transparent GLP-1 Pricing
Sabina was a patient who got screwed by the system and decided to do something about it.
If you’ve looked up more than one glp-1 clinic you already know how traumatizing it is to find pricing. As a person who reviews clinics I cannot tell you how many times I have had to put in my full information, address, email, phone number, sometimes even ID, face scan, and most recently last 4 of my SS#, just to see what the meds cost…
There are some clinics that still don’t show you how much you can expect to spend until after a video consultation. Talk about a waste of time, effort, and money when you finally find out that the price increases by dose and ends up being just as expensive as name brand meds.
Lucky for us, Sabina built the solution. GLP Winner is a transparent comparison site where you can actually see what you’re getting before handing over your soul, I mean your info.
“…it was just so painful to compare them and shop around... So that’s why I ended up making the tool because I was so annoyed by my personal situation.”
Sabina built GLP Winner because she was paying $550 a month for compounded semaglutide through a local OBGYN, and when they switched compounding pharmacies the price increased to $800.
“And I was like, that’s BS I know I’m getting screwed.”
After experiencing exactly what I described she didn’t just build this much needed tool, she started rotating providers to go through the whole painful process so that you don’t have to. You can watch her review providers and unbox the meds on her socials.
But here’s the thing we respect the most: she didn’t build GLP Winner to make a quick buck off desperate patients.
She built it because she was a desperate patient.
She’s been on GLP-1s for three years now and as an OG in this space she understands better than most what patients need.
GLP-1 Side Effects
During our conversation, Sabina opened up about how rough her journey has been.
She is one of the unlucky 12% who suffer from bad side effects but regardless of how brutal her experience was she wasn’t giving up.
“…within the first month or two, I knew I was going to be on this medication for most of my life because it’s just changed the food noise. This thing that was like constantly actively going in my head, like this like little devil on my shoulder, obsessed with food was quieted for once.”
Think about that for a second. The side effects were so bad she was vomiting multiple times a week, and she still didn’t want to stop.
That’s how life-changing this medication is.
Now imagine it being taken away.
Bills Targeting Compounded GLP-1s
Sabina and I have been advocating for access through thick and thin for the last year. She’s even traveled to some of the court proceedings involving pharma and compounded clinics, like Mochi Health.
The FDA’s months long game of is the medication off the shortage list or not.
The incessant up-and-down emotional roller coaster of, are we losing access today?
Clinics getting sued and not effect our prescriptions.
It has not been easy, but just as it started to feel like things were settling down, new legislation is being introduced, and not just from one state, but from all sides.
A federal bill called the Safe Drugs Act and several state bills are targeting compounded GLP-1s.
The bills aim to:
1. Make It Much Harder to Compound GLP-1s
Redefine what counts as a “copy” of a brand-name drug
Require pharmacists to prove there’s a meaningful difference for each patient
Limit pharmacies to compounding certain medications only 20 times per month
Clarify that adding something minor like B12 does not make it “different enough”
2. Tighten Where Ingredients Can Come From
Require raw ingredients to come from FDA-inspected facilities within the last two years
Require pharmaceutical-grade ingredients with formal documentation
Require pharmacies to do their own quality testing and keep detailed records
Prohibit certain versions of GLP-1 ingredients, like salt forms
3. Increase Oversight of Facilities
Require larger compounding facilities to be inspected before operating and regularly after
Require medical spas offering weight-loss drugs to register and have a responsible practitioner physically present
4. Add New Reporting Requirements
Require pharmacies to report when they ship more than 20 prescriptions per month across state lines
Require pharmacies to provide ingredient and testing records within one business day if requested
5. Create Serious Penalties for Violations
Fine pharmacies up to $1,000 per dose for drugs deemed improperly compounded
Allow immediate license revocation
Require warning labels stating the drug is not FDA-approved and may have known and unknown risks
What’s worse is that some of these bills don’t just target GLP-1s, they target all compounding.
ALL Compounding
Most of us don’t even know that we’ve likely had a compounded medication before.
Sabina explained that this could affect our veterinary care, hospice, children, anyone who can’t swallow a pill and need a liquid version like:
Pediatric custom formulations
Allergy-specific medications
Veterinary compounds
Hospice care preparations
Hormone compounds
Dermatology compounds
These are actions or guidance aimed directly at compounded semaglutide, tirzepatide, and similar drugs.
They usually focus on:
Arguing that compounded GLP-1s are “essentially copies” of brand-name drugs
Restricting use of certain versions, like salt forms
Clarifying that adding something minor like B12 does not make it legally different
Ending compounding once a drug is no longer considered in shortage
Intent: Rein in or eliminate compounded versions of specific blockbuster drugs.
Scope: Narrow. Targeted. Drug-specific.
The Broader Federal & State Bills
The newer federal and state bills go further.
They don’t just target GLP-1s. They change the rules for compounding in general.
They focus on:
Capping how many times pharmacies can compound drugs that resemble approved medications
Raising the bar for what counts as a “significant difference”
Tightening ingredient sourcing rules
Increasing federal inspections and reporting requirements
Imposing faster record production and heavier penalties
Intent: Restructure how traditional compounding works overall.
Scope: Broad. Structural. Applies to many compounded drugs, not just weight-loss medications.
It’s bigger than weight loss.
Healthcare Reform
But here’s what gives us hope. Sabina notes that we’re at a really unique moment in American politics right now.
Our broken healthcare system is not a partisan issue. Democrats and Republicans both know we’re getting ripped off.
“…let’s be real, our political situation is very chaotic. There’s a lot going on. There’s a lot that we all feel powerless about. But I think this is one area where we can change things. “
GLP-1s present a rare and powerful opportunity.
For the first time, millions of people whose lives have been changed by a medication are actively engaged in the healthcare system in a way they never were before. They are informed. They are organized. And they are willing to advocate for continued access.
Sabina pointed out that most people don’t feel the immediate impact of policy changes.
A law passes, and aside from taxes or paperwork, life goes on.
But being cut off from a medication that is actively treating a chronic disease? That is felt instantly.
GLP-1s are already changing the healthcare system. Actually, let me reframe that.
GLP-1 patients are already changing the healthcare system. And Sabina believes that this level of engagement and passion has the potential to reshape it for everyone, not just those taking these medications.
The Call to Action
If you live in a state where a bill is moving that could restrict access to compounded medications, this is the moment to act. Look up your state representative, call or email them, and tell them clearly that you oppose the specific bill by number. Share your personal story in simple terms. Explain how access to compounded GLP-1s or other compounded medications has affected your health, your finances, and your family. Let them know what losing access would actually mean for you, whether that is unaffordable care, going without treatment, or turning to less safe options. Many lawmakers see titles like “Safe Drugs Act” and assume it improves safety. They often do not realize these bills can reduce access, increase costs, and unintentionally push people toward unregulated markets.
Even if your state does not currently have a bill, you can still be proactive. If you have the time and feel strongly about this issue, contact your representatives and educate them before legislation appears. Compounding pharmacies are critical healthcare infrastructure, and most people, including lawmakers, did not understand their importance until recently. In-person visits can be especially powerful. When representatives hear directly from real constituents in their district, even a small number of calls or visits can make a meaningful difference.
Call to Action:
Look up your state representative by entering your address on your state legislature’s website
Call or email and reference the specific bill number if one is active
Share your personal story and explain what losing access would mean for you
Emphasize affordability, safety, and access in plain language
If possible, visit your representative’s local or state office in person
If you are not in an impacted state, share information with friends who are
Consider contacting your federal representatives about broader legislation such as the SAFE Drugs Act
Stay engaged and speak up early if legislation is expected in your state
This isn’t just about protecting access to a medication that changed so many people’s lives.
It’s about defending access to medications for hospice patients, children, pet owners, and anyone who relies on customized medicine.
It’s about a healthcare system that millions of Americans already know is broken, and a moment where patients are finally organized, informed, and unwilling to go back to suffering in silence.
In her words,
“This is the most important medical discovery of our lifetimes.”
Connect with Sabina
Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@lawliepop
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/lawliepops/
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@lawliepop
X/Twitter: https://x.com/lawliepop
Substack: https://substack.com/@lawliepop
Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/sabina-hemmi/
