Last reviewed: May 12, 2026
Last updated: May 12, 2026
Written by:
Jay Hastings
,
CEO of PlexusDx
Jay Hastings is the CEO of PlexusDx, a precision health company focused on genetic testing, blood biomarker insights, and personalized wellness recommendations. He has more than 20 years of experience across healthcare innovation, genomics, laboratory operations, healthcare investing, and strategic finance. His work has included scaling healthcare startups, leading CLIA lab integrations, and helping expand consumer access to precision health tools.
Medically reviewed by:
Jayden Lee, PharmD, EMBA
Jayden Lee, PharmD, EMBA, is the PlexusDx Medical Science Liaison with a PharmD and MBA specializing in pharmacogenomics and clinical product development, with a proven ability to bridge the gap between genomic research and practical patient outcomes. Dr. Lee has more than 10 years of professional experience in clinical pharmacy, academia, and research.
This overview is part of the PlexusDx Education Hub, our library on GLP-1 and peptide science, weight-management protocols, and the genetics behind them. Browse all Peptides & GLP-1 education
This is an independent editorial review. PlexusDx has no commercial relationship with Hers and no affiliate stake in how you read this overview of the peptide landscape.
"Peptides" is a broad word, and the searches that pair it with a telehealth brand usually want a map: what these programs can actually dispense, and where a given brand fits. This overview places Hers within the GLP-1 and peptide landscape, then turns to the genetic layer that sits under the whole category. Editorial balance, not a buying recommendation. As of April 2026.
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Where Hers sits in the peptide and GLP-1 landscape
Within the wider world of therapeutic peptides, the weight-management conversation is dominated by the incretin agonists: GLP-1 receptor agonists and the GIP/GLP-1 dual agonist class. Hers (Hims & Hers Health) participates in this space as a subscription telehealth brand rather than a manufacturer, connecting patients to prescriptions rather than inventing the compounds. Understanding that role clarifies what a program can and cannot offer.
The compounds a telehealth program can dispense
Telehealth GLP-1 programs generally work with FDA-approved branded products routed through retail pharmacies, or compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide prepared by 503A compounding pharmacies. The molecule reaching a patient depends on eligibility and the dispensing route, and compounded preparations are not themselves FDA-approved products. Which options a given brand supports is defined by the brand, and current details appear on Hers's official website.
How prescriptions and fulfillment work
The mechanics are consistent across the category: an online intake covering weight, history, and medications; a licensed clinician's review and, where appropriate, a prescription; routing to a retail or compounding pharmacy; and ongoing follow-up for titration and tolerability. Provider type and pharmacy partner vary by case, which is why two programs sharing the same compound can still feel quite different in practice.
What the peptide research base shows
The evidence anchoring this class comes from a handful of major programs: STEP for semaglutide (The New England Journal of Medicine, 2021), SURMOUNT for tirzepatide (NEJM, 2022), and SURMOUNT-OSA for tirzepatide in obstructive sleep apnea (NEJM, 2024). Populations and endpoints differ across these trials, and individual outcomes vary, so trial data describes averages rather than promises.
The genetic layer these programs leave out
A telehealth peptide program does not account for the upstream genetic architecture that shapes how any GLP-1 compound behaves in a given body. Variants in FTO, the fat-mass and obesity-associated gene, along with GLP1R (the GLP-1 receptor gene that every GLP-1 compound targets), MC4R (a melanocortin receptor tied to satiety and energy balance), and TCF7L2 (a transcription factor linked to glucose homeostasis) describe the metabolic terrain a clinician is prescribing into. These are pathway-level signals. They do not predict response to any specific medication, but they map the biology beneath the decision, context a telehealth prescription on its own never captures.
PlexusDx provides semaglutide and tirzepatide through its Weight Management Protocols, available as Semaglutide Injection, Semaglutide Oral, Tirzepatide Injection, and Tirzepatide Oral. What distinguishes the approach is that upstream genetic context. Before starting any GLP-1 pathway protocol, the Precision Peptide Genetic Test analyzes 14 pathways, 49 peptides, 150+ genetic insights, including FTO, MC4R, and TCF7L2 variants that shape baseline appetite-regulation and energy-balance biology. Pairing that profile with the protocol is the test before you invest approach, turning guesswork into an informed conversation with your healthcare provider.
Not affiliated: PlexusDx is not affiliated with Hers and holds no commercial relationship with the companies discussed in this article.
Related reading on PlexusDx: GLP 1 What Is, GLP 1 Receptor Agonist, GLP 1 Drugs, GLP 1 Hormone.
Disclaimer: This article is educational. PlexusDx is not affiliated with Hers and has no commercial relationship with the companies reviewed. PlexusDx offers semaglutide and tirzepatide through its own Weight Management Protocols, and this review compares approaches within the GLP-1 telehealth space. The Precision Peptide Genetic Test analyzes how your genes influence peptide-related biological pathways; it does not predict response to any specific medication. Consult a qualified healthcare provider before beginning any peptide protocol.
Compare the PlexusDx approach: explore the Weight Management Protocols for semaglutide and tirzepatide paired with the genetic context most telehealth programs omit. Or begin upstream and take the Precision Peptide Genetic Test to understand your GLP-1 pathway first.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which peptides do telehealth programs like Hers dispense?
In weight management, the relevant peptides are incretin agonists: GLP-1 receptor agonists such as semaglutide, and the GIP/GLP-1 dual agonist tirzepatide. These arrive as FDA-approved branded products or as compounded preparations from 503A pharmacies, with the exact options set by the brand.
Are compounded peptides FDA-approved?
Compounded semaglutide or tirzepatide prepared by a 503A pharmacy under a prescription is not itself an FDA-approved product, unlike a branded finished product. The molecule may be the same, but the regulatory status and supply chain differ between the compounded and branded routes.
What does the Precision Peptide Genetic Test analyze?
It examines 14 pathways, 49 peptides, 150+ genetic insights, including pathway-level variants in FTO, MC4R, and TCF7L2. It does not predict response to any specific peptide or medication; it maps baseline biology to give upstream context for a metabolic conversation with your provider.
This article is part of the PlexusDx Education Hub. Browse all Peptides & GLP-1 education
Medical and Editorial Standards
Medical review process: This article was reviewed for medical accuracy, scientific clarity, evidence alignment, and appropriate discussion of genetics, medications, supplements, biomarkers, and health-related claims.
Sources and evidence: PlexusDx educational content is developed using peer-reviewed research, clinical literature, reputable medical references, and, where applicable, public health or regulatory guidance. References are included at the end of the article when scientific, medical, or health-related claims are discussed.
Commercial transparency: PlexusDx offers genetic testing, blood biomarker testing, personalized supplement recommendations, and related precision wellness services. Product mentions are intended to help readers understand available options and should not be interpreted as medical advice.
Important disclaimer: PlexusDx educational content is for informational purposes only and should not be used as a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare provider before making decisions about medications, supplements, genetic testing, lab testing, or health-related care.
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Hers and Mounjaro: Tirzepatide, Branded vs Compounded
Hers and Mounjaro: Tirzepatide, Branded vs Compounded