Empower Pharmacy founder: 'The most expensive part of your medication isn’t the drug. It’s the middleman'

Shaun Noorian (Left), CEO of Empower Pharmacy
Shaun Noorian (Left), CEO of Empower Pharmacy | LinkedIn

Shaun Noorian, Founder and Chief Executive Officer of Empower Pharmacy, said on LinkedIn that the company’s direct and transparent approach eliminates unnecessary middlemen to deliver affordable medication.

"The most expensive part of your medication isn't the drug. It's the middleman," said Noorian, Founder and CEO, according to LinkedIn. "PBMs, wholesalers, insurance layers... they all touch the product but add zero clinical value. Our model is direct, transparent, and obsessively focused on one thing: getting quality, affordable medicine into patients' hands without the friction, markup, or delay. You want lower costs? Cut out the noise."

Pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) play a significant role in U.S. prescription drug pricing by negotiating rebates and managing formularies. However, critics argue that their practices can inflate prices and limit pharmacy options for patients. According to MarketWatch, recent Federal Trade Commission (FTC) investigations have found that PBMs sometimes mark up drug prices by over 1,000%, prompting calls for greater oversight and transparency.

A 2023 report by the Peterson-KFF Health System Tracker indicates that out-of-pocket costs for U.S. patients averaged $207 per person annually for prescription drugs. Some high-cost specialty medications result in annual out-of-pocket expenses exceeding $1,200 for individual patients.

Amid rising concerns over drug pricing, Donald Trump Jr. recently declared support for policies targeting PBM transparency and drug cost reform. He said, "The tide is turning, and the racket that keeps Americans sick is coming to an end." This rhetoric aligns with FTC findings that PBM spread-pricing practices generated $7.3 billion in revenue and $1.4 billion in profit between 2017–2022 on specialty generics alone.

According to Houston InnovationMap, Shaun Noorian is the founder and CEO of Empower Pharmacy, the nation’s largest compounding pharmacy. He has led the company since its launch in 2009; previously, he worked as an engineer and now serves on the board of the Alliance for Pharmacy Compounding, focusing on innovation in personalized medication.

Empower Pharmacy’s official website describes the company as being founded in 2009 in Houston, Texas. It operates a 503A compounding pharmacy and a 503B FDA-registered outsourcing facility. Empower’s mission is to improve patient access to affordable, high-quality medications nationwide through advanced technology and robust quality systems.