Eli Lilly said Wednesday it had sued four compounders for selling unapproved
products containing tirzepatide, after a U.S. judge last month blocked pharm
acies from making copies of its weight-loss and diabetes medicines.
Compounders were, until recently, allowed to produce copies of obesity drugs
while the FDA classified them as being in shortage, under U.S. rules that permit such manufacturing only during supply gaps.
Tirzepatide is the main
ingredient in Lilly’s weight-loss and diabetes medicines, including the blockbuster, Mounjaro.
Lilly’s lawsuits, to be filed in California, name Mochi Health Corp, Fella He
alth and Delilah, Willow Health Services, and Henry Meds, accusing them of s
elling tirzepatide knockoffs—including versions with additives or in oral form—w
ithout clinical evidence of safety or effectiveness.
“We’re dedicated to keeping these treatments accessible for our patien
ts,” said Myra Ahmad, CEO of Mochi Health, adding the company is responding to the allegations.
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Indianapolis-based Lilly has already sued more than two dozen medical spas, we
lness centers and compounding pharmacies for selling products claiming to contain tirzepatide.
Earlier this month, the company sued two other compounders and said it would send about fifty cease and desist letters, askin
g companies to confirm that they have already ceased mass compounding.
Compounding facilities create medicines by combining, mixing or altering drug ingredients.
(Reporting by Christy Santhosh and Sriparna Roy in Bengaluru; Editing by
Nivedita Bhattacharjee and Mohammed Safi Shamsi)