In this episode of Entrepreneurs in Recovery, host Jesse Harless welcomes Shaun Noorian, CEO of Empower Pharmacy, the world’s largest compounding pharmacy, to discuss a groundbreaking approach to healthcare. Shaun shares his personal journey, from battling a pituitary disorder and low testosterone to founding a company that’s disrupting Big Pharma by offering personalized, affordable medications.
He dives into the critical role of compounding pharmacies in providing access to life-changing treatments like ketamine therapy for mental health, the inefficiencies of the traditional pharmaceutical supply chain, and the future of psychedelic-assisted therapies such as MDMA and psilocybin for addiction and trauma.
This episode is filled with Shaun's insights on the broken healthcare system, the power of personalized medicine to improve outcomes, and the importance of removing stigma around performance-enhancing and therapeutic drugs. Whether you’re interested in affordable healthcare solutions, exploring innovative mental health treatments, or seeking ways to take control of your wellness journey, Shaun story provides hope, actionable ideas, and a vision for a patient-centered healthcare future. Tune in for a transformative conversation that blends entrepreneurship, recovery, and healthcare innovation.
Moments From the Show
00:00 Introduction to Entrepreneurs and Recovery
01:12 Meet Shaun Noorian: CEO of Empower Pharmacy
03:45 Shaun's Personal Health Journey
08:30 Discovering the Power of Compounding Pharmacies
13:44 Building a Patient-Centric System
23:59 The Rise of Telemedicine and Compounding Pharmacies
34:15 Ketamine Therapy and Mental Health
39:11 Challenges and Opportunities in the Pharmaceutical Industry
40:31 Rethinking Health Insurance and Preventative Care
53:10 The Future of Psychedelic Assisted Therapies
55:58 Personalized Medicine and Compounding Pharmacies
57:06 Access and Affordability for Vulnerable Populations
01:06:06 Optimizing Health Through Functional Medicine
01:18:30 Conclusion and Future Outlook
Title: Disrupting Big Pharma: Personalized Medicine, Compounding Pharmacies, and the Future of Mental Health
The Broken Healthcare System
Our current healthcare model isn’t designed to prioritize the patient—it’s optimized for profit. As Shaun Noorian, CEO of Empower Pharmacy, passionately explains, big pharmaceutical companies thrive when people get sick. They rake in massive profits from treatment plans that are unaffordable and often inaccessible for the average person. The U.S. healthcare system is plagued by layers of middlemen—from insurers to pharmacy benefit managers—all taking a cut, driving up costs, and delaying care.
Building a New Healthcare Model
Shaun proposes a bold solution: create a new, patient-centric healthcare system from the ground up. Empower Pharmacy, the largest compounding pharmacy in the world, is leading this charge. Compounding pharmacies are different from traditional pharmaceutical companies. Instead of mass-producing one-size-fits-all drugs, they customize medications to meet individual needs—often at a fraction of the cost.
Shaun’s mission is clear: deliver high-quality, personalized medicine directly to patients without the layers of bureaucracy, insurance limitations, or inflated prices.
Guest Introduction: Shaun Noorian, CEO of Empower Pharmacy
In this episode of Entrepreneurs in Recovery, host Jesse Harless sits down with Shaun Noorian, a pioneering figure disrupting the pharmaceutical industry. From personal health struggles to founding a global compounding powerhouse, Shaun’s journey is a story of resilience, innovation, and patient advocacy.
Jesse, already a user of Empower Pharmacy’s services, shares how a simple LinkedIn outreach led to this powerful collaboration.
Shaun’s Personal Story: From Injury to Innovation
Shaun's journey started with pain—literally. After a serious back injury working in the oil fields, he found himself unable to gain muscle, constantly fatigued, and battling depression. A blood test revealed he had the testosterone levels of an 80-year-old man due to a pituitary disorder. His life changed when a specialist prescribed hormone replacement therapy through a compounding pharmacy.
This experience sparked a question: Why was life-changing medicine so expensive when the materials cost only a few dollars? As an engineer with a background in manufacturing, Shaun realized he could apply lean systems thinking to pharmaceuticals. And thus, Empower Pharmacy was born.
Key Benefits of Compounding Pharmacies
1. Traditional drug prices rise 10% annually. Compounded medications, however, often decrease in price. Empower lowered its prices by over 30% in the past year alone.
2. Rather than mass-produced drugs, patients receive formulations tailored to their unique health needs and biology. This often results in better outcomes with fewer side effects.
3. Empower eliminates unnecessary middlemen. Telemedicine partnerships enable patients to receive diagnosis, prescription, and medication delivery—often within 24–48 hours.
How the Pharmaceutical Supply Chain Is Rigged
Shaun outlines the convoluted journey of a traditional medication:
- Manufacturer (e.g., Pfizer)
- Wholesaler (McKesson, Cardinal)
- Pharmacy (CVS)
- Pharmacy Benefit Manager (PBM)
- Insurance Carrier
Each step adds cost. Empower Pharmacy cuts through all of these factors with a vertically integrated, cash-based model. No insurance. No PBMs. Just high-quality medicine delivered directly to patients and providers.
The Rise of Telemedicine and Personalized Health
The COVID-19 pandemic forced the rapid adoption of telemedicine. Now, patients can consult specialists remotely and receive customized compounded medications shipped straight to their doors.
This model is especially helpful in mental health, where stigma and accessibility have long prevented care. Empower is actively supporting this new frontier, offering medications like ketamine—legally compounded and used in guided therapy for treatment-resistant depression.
Ketamine, Psychedelics & the Future of Mental Health
Ketamine, once used primarily for anesthesia, is now transforming mental health care. Empower creates multiple formulations—nasal sprays, oral tablets, and injectables—to make ketamine affordable and accessible. During the pandemic, they filled supply chain gaps when traditional providers couldn’t keep up with demand.
As the laws around psychedelics shift, Shaun predicts compounding pharmacies will play a vital role. Once MDMA and psilocybin are FDA-approved, they can be compounded into personalized treatments tailored to each patient’s needs.
Shaun’s Protocols: High-Performance Health Optimization
As a corporate athlete, Shaun practices what he preaches. His personal health regimen includes:
- Testosterone Replacement Therapy
- Fertility Support (HCG)
- Topical Acne and Hair Loss Formulations
- Erectile Dysfunction Treatments (oral and injectable)
- NAD+ Injections for energy and mitochondrial health
- Peptides like GHK-Cu for skin and hair regeneration
- Methylene Blue for cognitive enhancement and inflammation
Each therapy is prescribed based on diagnostics and fine-tuned for optimal performance—not guesswork.
Overcoming Stigma: “Drugs Are Bad” Isn’t the Whole Story
Jesse and Shaun unpack the stigma surrounding performance-enhancing or mood-supporting drugs. These aren't shortcuts—they’re tools. Tools that should be used responsibly, with medical oversight, to help people become healthier, more productive versions of themselves.
And it’s not just about entrepreneurs and athletes. The real mission? Bring these tools to people in recovery, drug courts, underserved populations—anyone suffering who deserves access to healing.
Access and Action: How to Get Started
- Talk to Your Provider
Ask if they’re familiar with compounded medications. If not, find one who is. - Search for Specialists
Use search engines or tools like ChatGPT to find providers in your area (or via telemedicine) that work with compounding pharmacies. - Explore Empower Pharmacy
Visit EmpowerPharmacy.com or follow them on Instagram, LinkedIn, or YouTube to learn more.
Final Message: Health is Wealth
Shaun’s vision is clear:
Jesse closes the episode with a message of hope and gratitude, reminding listeners that they do have options. Even small disruptions can lead to massive change.
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