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Startup Helps Americans Find Scarce Medications
A startup is addressing the ongoing shortages of highly-coveted drugs like Adderall and Ozempic in the United States. Insito Health has launched a new service called Medfinder, which aims to connect patients with pharmacies that have these medications in stock. The unique approach involves outsourcing the detective work to freelancers abroad.
Founders’ Personal Connection
The co-founders of Medfinder, Peter Daggett and Parth Shah, both have ADHD, which inspired them to create the service. They came up with the idea after realizing the challenges of locating specific medications. Daggett and Shah jokingly discussed paying someone to help them find where they could fill an Adderall prescription, which led to the inception of Medfinder.
Since its launch in January, Medfinder has assisted thousands of individuals in locating hard-to-find medications. The service has become increasingly vital as the number of ongoing drug shortages in 2024 has reached a record high of 323, according to the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists.
Popular Medications in Demand
Most Medfinder customers are seeking stimulants like Adderall, which have been particularly affected by shortages since 2022. Additionally, customers are looking for GLP-1 drugs used for diabetes and weight loss, such as Mounjaro, Zepbound, Wegovy, and Ozempic.
Insito Medfinder employs individuals abroad, primarily in the Philippines, through platforms like Upwork. These workers are trained to call pharmacies in the U.S. on behalf of patients to inquire about medication availability, ensuring compliance with HIPAA regulations.
Customers pay Medfinder varying fees based on the number of medications they need assistance with, ranging from $50 for one medication to $180 for six medications, per refill.
Industry Response to Shortages
Other companies are also stepping up to assist patients during these historic drug shortages. For example, Ro, a telehealth platform, recently launched its GLP-1 Supply Tracker. This tool allows patients to receive alerts when a specific drug is back in stock in their area, along with pharmacy contact information.
Eli Lilly, the manufacturer of Zepbound and Mounjaro, is developing a similar tool to help patients access these crucial medications. The company’s diabetes and obesity division president, Patrik Jonsson, mentioned plans to update their supply website with a heat map indicating where patients can find these drugs.
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