Eli Lilly sues four telehealth sites selling compounded Zepbound, Mounjaro

Core Viewpoint - Eli Lilly is taking legal action against four telehealth companies for selling compounded versions of its weight loss drug Zepbound and diabetes treatment Mounjaro, alleging consumer deception and violation of FDA regulations [1][2][3]. Group 1: Legal Actions and Allegations - Eli Lilly has filed lawsuits against Mochi Health, Fella Health, Willow Health, and Henry Meds, accusing them of marketing "untested, unapproved drugs" and misleading consumers away from Lilly's products [2]. - The company claims these telehealth platforms are falsely presenting their offerings as personalized treatments while actually mass-marketing variations of Lilly's drugs to evade FDA scrutiny [3]. - Lilly's lawsuits also assert that some of these companies are selling unstudied formulations, including oral tablets and drops, which have not undergone proper clinical testing [3]. Group 2: Market Context and Compounding Practices - The shortage of Lilly's diabetes drug Mounjaro in late 2022 led to pharmacies and outsourcing facilities engaging in compounding practices, creating a market for alternative versions of GLP-1 drugs [4][5]. - Despite the FDA declaring the shortage over, some pharmacies continued to produce compounded versions of tirzepatide, the active ingredient in Mounjaro and Zepbound, potentially avoiding regulatory action [5][6]. - The online market for compounded drugs surged as consumers sought alternatives when brand-name drugs were unavailable or not covered by insurance [5]. Group 3: Company Responses and Future Implications - Mochi Health, one of the companies being sued, expressed intentions to continue selling compounded versions of tirzepatide, believing that personalized treatment offerings would protect them legally [7]. - Lilly's legal filings claim that Mochi's CEO is not a licensed physician and that the company exerts undue influence over prescribing decisions, which constitutes the "unlawful corporate practice of medicine" [8]. - Lilly is seeking to prevent these telehealth companies from marketing or selling tirzepatide, but the legal process may take months or longer to resolve [8].