COLTS NECK, NJ — Colts Neck resident Sara Horowitz said she was inspired to found an online pharmacy with her husband after going through personal struggles with weight loss.
A native of Monmouth County, Horowitz, 38, began her weight loss journey following the birth of her two children (each six and three years old).
Though Horowitz initially started her journey with dieting and exercise, she turned to weight loss medication after not seeing ideal results. Six months into treatment, however, her insurance company stopped paying for her medication.
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“At that point, we [Horowitz and her husband] decided that there has to be a way to get these medications to other people like myself,” Horowitz said. “People who are not at their goal weight, who still have a high BMI or are considered overweight, people that just want to look and feel better.”
From there, the concept for FWD Pharmacy was born.
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As an online telehealth company, FWD Pharmacy focuses on providing accessible weight loss medication.
Though the pharmacy primarily sells weight loss products now, Horowitz said she and her husband plan to expand the pharmacy to other treatment areas such as hair loss, sexual wellness, and dermatology as well.
“Essentially, we created an easy-to-use platform so that we can have more accessibility, convenience and affordable medication for everybody who is looking to lose weight,” Horowitz said.
While the pharmacy began operations in 2023, Horowitz said she did plenty of research prior to starting FWD. Finding other people who had similar struggles with insurance coverage for weight loss medication further motivated Horowitz to create the pharmacy with her husband.
“We just wanted it [the pharmacy] to be convenient and give access to anybody who wants to use weight loss medication,” Horowitz said.
At FWD Pharmacy, the process for receiving weight loss medication begins with a medical intake form, Horowitz said. From there, a doctor from MD Integrations (a telemedicine platform run by physicians) goes through the patient information to see if they’re a candidate for the medication.
Once the patient is approved, Horowitz said the medication is shipped to the patient’s door within three to four business days.
“All the medications are manufactured at a compound pharmacy in the US,” Horowitz said. “And why we use these pharmacies is because they’re using the exact same medications as name brands – they have a 99.9% biosimilar ingredient.”
Currently, FWD Pharmacy offers weight loss medications such as Semaglutide and Tirzepatide, Horowitz said. In addition to medication, the pharmacy also sells products such as anti-aging gel and 5-in-1 hair loss treatment foam.
“It definitely took some time to start up,” Horowitz said. “Especially because it’s all online. But everything is virtual, which makes it easier for the consumer.”
Since starting the pharmacy, Horowitz said the Monmouth County community has been essential in supporting her business.
“I’ve been able to open up conversations about how as women, as moms, as working moms — we all struggle with a lot of the same issues,” Horowitz said. “And, you know, if this is one thing that can help us start our weight loss journey, why not try it?”
To learn more about FWD Pharmacy, you can visit their website.
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