Eli Lilly has recently filed lawsuits against 10 medical spas, wellness centers, and compounding pharmacies in the United States. The lawsuits allege that these establishments have been selling products that claim to contain tirzepatide, the active ingredient in Eli Lilly’s diabetes drug, Mounjaro. Eli Lilly is seeking injunctions against the accused parties, as well as unspecified damages.
The lawsuits have been filed in federal courts in Florida and Texas. The four compounding pharmacies named in the lawsuits are Better Life Pharmacy, ReviveRX, Rx Compound Store, and Wells Pharmacy Network. Eli Lilly accuses these pharmacies of violating federal and state consumer protection and competition laws by selling unregulated versions of Mounjaro.
In addition to the compounding pharmacies, Eli Lilly is also taking legal action against six medical spas and wellness centers. These establishments, located in Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Minnesota, South Carolina, and Utah, are being accused of infringing Eli Lilly’s trademark by advertising compounded tirzepatide as Mounjaro.
Eli Lilly claims that these establishments are using its trademark to attract customers and generate profits by selling their own unapproved compounded drugs purporting to contain tirzepatide for weight loss, which is not an approved use for Mounjaro. The lawsuits are seeking injunctive orders and damages.
The move by Eli Lilly comes in response to reports of counterfeit versions of tirzepatide and its rival drug semaglutide being sold by compounding pharmacies and medical spas. In fact, just a few months ago, Novo Nordisk, the company that markets semaglutide, filed similar lawsuits against medical spas and compounding pharmacies.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has warned about the safety risks of using compounded versions of weight-loss drugs. These drugs have not been reviewed by the FDA or other regulatory agencies for safety, quality, or efficacy. However, the FDA has stated that compounded drugs can be made and distributed with fewer restrictions if the original drug appears on its drug shortages list, which Mounjaro currently does.
With the global obesity epidemic and the increasing demand for weight-loss treatments, the market for drugs like Mounjaro and semaglutide is expected to grow significantly. Analysts and industry executives predict that annual sales of these drugs could reach $100 billion within a decade. Eli Lilly’s product, if approved for weight loss, could potentially account for more than half of those sales.
In conclusion, Eli Lilly is taking legal action against medical spas, wellness centers, and compounding pharmacies for selling counterfeit versions of its diabetes drug, Mounjaro. The company is seeking injunctions and damages, claiming violations of consumer protection and competition laws. These lawsuits reflect the growing concern over the sale of unapproved and potentially unsafe compounded drugs for weight loss.
Sources:
– Reuters: Eli Lilly sues U.S. medical spas, pharmacies over counterfeit diabetes drug
– Reuters: Novo Nordisk sues U.S. spas, pharmacies over counterfeit obesity drug
