Compounding pharmacies have emerged as a crucial player in the evolving landscape of personalized medicine, offering customized solutions tailored to individual patient needs. At the forefront of this movement is Strive Compound Pharmacy, co-founded by Nate Hill, whose mission is to redefine how people access and experience compounded medications.
With a background in pharmaceutical sales, Hill became disillusioned with the traditional approach of treating symptoms rather than addressing root causes. Recognizing an opportunity to provide a more patient-centric and proactive healthcare experience, he and his co-founder, Mike, set out to build a compounding pharmacy that delivers high-quality medications and fosters trust, innovation, and exceptional customer service.
Hill shares his vision for Strive Pharmacy and the broader compounding industry in this interview, offering insight into the challenges, trends, and regulatory landscape shaping its future. From navigating FDA regulations to pioneering new dosage forms that enhance personalized treatment, Hill discusses how Strive positions itself as a leader in this rapidly growing space. He also explores the evolving consumer demand for alternative treatments, the importance of trust in leadership, and the role of technology in scaling personalized medicine. Through it all, Strive remains committed to giving patients greater control over their health and setting a new standard in pharmaceutical care.
What inspired you to co-found Strive Compound Pharmacy, and how did you identify the need for specialized pharmaceutical services?
At the time, I was a sales rep in pharmaceuticals. I didn’t love representing a drug that treated the side effects of another drug. Especially one that was for people who already had a chronic condition. I was intrigued by the types of medications that compounding pharmacies could make. It focused more on improving your current state than just slapping a band-aid on the problem. It was a more proactive approach. My co-founder Mike and I saw the opportunity in the space from a customer service and branding perspective. With compounding pharmacies already making personalized medications, we felt that there should also be a personalized experience to reflect the uniqueness of this process.
How do you envision the future of Strive Compound Pharmacy in the next 5 to 10 years, and what role do you want to play in shaping that future?
I see the future of compounding pharmacy as more accepted across mainstream channels. There are so many options for medications out there that don’t make sense for big pharmaceutical companies to pursue and get covered by Pharmacy Benefit Managers (PBMs). However, there is an awakening to personalized healthcare and cash-pay models. People who care about their health want to have the option to take these medications if they feel they have a trusted resource that makes them. Strive will be the pinnacle of compounding pharmacies that provide these quality medications and set the standard for how it should be done, so it can be more accepted across the country.
As a CEO, what leadership qualities do you consider essential to navigating the complexities of the pharmaceutical industry and entrepreneurship?
Trust and consistency. We always mention to our executive team that business happens at the speed of trust. With so many moving parts at our different locations, we must hire trustworthy leaders. Leaders who won’t cut corners, have empathy, are proactive, find solutions, will encourage others, and are committed to the growth of Strive and the greater mission. It is hard to mend when trust is broken. We must be willing to replace individuals who don’t emulate these core values. This trust extends to the patient. We cannot cut corners. We have to provide the best quality medications so patients know they can rely on Strive to give them the best options to improve their health.
What are the biggest challenges you’ve faced as a CEO in the compounded pharmacy industry, and how have you overcome them?
One of our biggest challenges is the obstacles around FDA regulations. The list of what we can and cannot compound is ever-changing. We have faced so much scrutiny as if there are large groups that want to put compounders out of business or, at the very least, make it difficult to operate and grow. Medications can be pulled off of lists without notice. We have had to learn to adapt really well and pivot to new medications. The only option is to keep pushing forward, looking for new opportunities to emerge and being the first to take advantage of them.
Another challenge with any “personalized” product is scalability. The healthcare industry lacks technological advancements in general, but this is even more prevalent in the compounding pharmacy industry. We have had to innovate and implement technology to scale without losing the personal aspect that our patients need. This drive to innovate while remaining customer-centric has become the catalyst for paving new paths forward.
How do you foster collaboration between pharmacists, healthcare providers, and patients to deliver the best personalized care?
The beautiful thing about compounding pharmacies is that the very nature of the service requires end-to-end collaboration with each of these parties. One of the ways we’re enabling that at Strive is through investment in education and clinical expertise, which empowers each of these parties to understand the clinical applications of the medication the patient will be taking. Medication should be personal, so patients should have more of a seat at the table to discuss these medications with providers and pharmacists to understand what they’re putting in their bodies. When a patient gets asked, “Do you have any questions for the pharmacist?” we hope they do — all our pharmacists deeply believe in the purpose and impact of what we provide and are eager to share their passion and knowledge with them and providers alike.
What are some of the most significant trends you’re seeing in the compound pharmacy industry today, and how do you plan to capitalize on them?
Nobody can deny the “health revolution” happening around us. The shift to organic foods, the growing popularity of fitness, etc., are all parts of that puzzle. Compounding pharmacies represent the pharmaceutical piece of that puzzle for patients who want to proactively shift their baseline health. More individuals are looking at alternative forms of treatment every day to accomplish this. Everyone has unique needs, and their health journey can differ from the next person’s. There is a growing lack of trust in Big Pharma’s one-size-fits-all approach. People want to be in charge of their health, and there are so many options that Big Pharma does not offer. Anti-aging, hormone replacement therapy, and other alternative forms of customized treatments are the future.
How do you see the impact of regulatory changes, such as FDA guidance or state-level regulations, on your business and the broader compounding industry?
Since Strive was founded, we have seen tighter restrictions and more regulations. Although there needs to be regulation, it needs to be done in a way that allows the compounding pharmacies that are going above and beyond with compliance to operate and provide quality medications to their patients. There is a lot of optimism around RFK and leading the Federal Health and Human Services. He is very much against Big Pharma’s tactics and is pro-alternative medications. We are hopeful that this will reduce Big Pharma’s power over the FDA and that we can focus more on what is best for patients and allow them more freedom to choose a more personalized approach. While we’ll always advocate for new pro-compounding, patient-centric regulations, we still strongly adhere to existing regulations and welcome the scrutiny as a differentiator.
What are some of the most innovative products Strive Compound Pharmacy has introduced that set you apart from competitors?
At Strive, our competitive edge isn’t limited to our products alone, but also in the level of care, compliance, and quality that goes into them. We recognize who we’re against — so to excel in this competitive landscape, our products must be top-notch. Regarding specific product innovations, in the spirit of providing more personalized medications at scale, we’re rolling out a series of medications in “flex-dose tablet” form. These can be produced in large volumes but can easily be broken into four equal parts, allowing providers to prescribe very patient-specific dosages or titration schedules. We’re also continuing to innovate in the GLP-1 space to improve access and continuity of care for patients, such as sublingual drops or dissolvable tablets.
What are the biggest challenges you foresee in the future of compounding pharmacies, and how are you preparing to address them?
The biggest challenges we foresee are similar to what we’re currently up against — regulations, compounding pharmacy, and patient access rights. The truth is, we’re up against a deeply ingrained “system,” which will continue to create headwinds for us, which we’re prepared for. Strive is uniquely positioned to lead from the front with a mission to educate and bring awareness to the importance of compounding pharmacies in the healthcare spectrum. We will continue to raise awareness of all the quality and compliance procedures within which we operate. We are developing a government affairs department that will facilitate connections and relationships with individuals who can lobby on behalf of the compounding pharmacy industry.
Ultimately, we don’t believe the outcome is Big Pharma OR Compounding, but it needs to be Big Pharma AND Compounding working harmoniously together to enrich the patient experience and provide more options to health-forward patients and providers.
