Reuters

On Thursday, American drugmaker Eli Lilly said it filed six separate lawsuits against those it claims are selling products containing tirzepatide, the active ingredient in their diabetes drug, Mounjaro, and weight-loss prescription, Zepbound.

Wall Street Journal

Eli Lilly alleges that spas and wellness centers are selling counterfeit or compounded versions of tirzeptide. They claim that the accused falsely labeled their products as Mounjaro or Zepbound or as having US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval.

Eli Lilly alleges that spas and wellness centers are selling counterfeit or compounded versions of tirzepatide. They claim that the accused falsely labeled their products as Mounjaro or Zepbound or as having US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval.

ABC News

The company says that lab tests found that the counterfeit and compounded tirzeptide raised efficacy and safety concerns, noting that some contained bacteria, impurities, and that in one case the purported drug contained nothing but sugar alcohol.

The company says that lab tests found that the counterfeit and compounded tirzeptide raised efficacy and safety concerns. It noted that some contained bacteria and impurities, and, in one case, the purported drug contained nothing but sugar alcohol.

The company says that lab tests found that the counterfeit and compounded tirzeptide raised efficacy and safety concerns. It noted that some contained bacteria and impurities, and, in one case, the purported drug contained only sugar alcohol.

The company says that lab tests found that the counterfeit and compounded tirzepatide raised efficacy and safety concerns. It noted that some contained bacteria and impurities, and, in one case, the purported drug contained only sugar alcohol.

Eli Lilly and Company

Warning that such unauthorized products could cause "serious harm," Eli Lilly warned consumers against purchasing the drug from social media or any other grey market outlet. Some unlicensed sellers offer oral tirzeptide, which no regulatory body has approved.

Warning that such unauthorized products could cause "serious harm," Eli Lilly warned consumers against purchasing the drug from social media or other outlets like spas and wellness centers. Some unlicensed sellers offer oral tirzeptide, which no regulatory body has approved.

Warning that such unauthorized products could cause "serious harm," Eli Lilly warned consumers against purchasing the drug from social media or other outlets like spas and wellness centers. Some unlicensed sellers allegedly offer oral tirzepatide, which no regulatory body has approved.

Forbes

The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy has said that the supply for weight loss drugs has not been able to keep up with the demand, which "illegal actors" are taking advantage of. Lilly filed similar lawsuits in October and September 2023.

The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy has said that the supply for weight loss drugs has not been able to keep up with the demand, which "illegal actors" are reportedly taking advantage of. Lilly filed similar lawsuits in October and September 2023.

The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy has said that the supply of weight loss drugs has not been able to keep up with the demand, which "illegal actors" are reportedly taking advantage of. Lilly filed similar lawsuits in October and September 2023.

The FDA said in March that it has received over 100 reports of adverse effects from counterfeit tirzeptide and semaglutide, the generic ingredient in Novo Nordisk's Ozempic and Wegovy. Novo Nordisk filed nine suits against alleged unauthorized compound sellers in May.

The FDA said in March that it has received over 100 reports of adverse effects from counterfeit tirzepatide and semaglutide, the generic ingredient in Novo Nordisk's Ozempic and Wegovy. Novo Nordisk filed nine suits against alleged unauthorized compound sellers in May.

The FDA said in March that it had received over 100 reports of adverse effects from counterfeit tirzepatide and semaglutide, the generic ingredient in Novo Nordisk's Ozempic and Wegovy. Novo Nordisk filed nine suits against alleged unauthorized compound sellers in May.

Reuters #

Wall Street Journal #

Forbes #5038

A broken insurance and medical system in America has driven desperate patients to counterfeit weight loss drugs. Over 40% of Americans are obese, and they are being shut out by cost-averse insurers and a recalcitrant federal government, which treats obesity drugs as cosmetic interventions rather than medical ones. By allowing insurers and Medicare to negotiate for these drugs in bulk, prices would be driven down as generics and cheaper versions are gradually introduced.

Washington Post

Washington Post #5049

Wegovy, Zepbound and other weight-loss drugs should be available to all - The Washington Post

Drug counterfeiting is an scourge that involves multinational criminals and middlemen who illicitly divert the drug from the supply chain. This problem is not due to the failures of insurers or manufacturers, but of enforcement of the law and bad policy. By declaring a shortage of weight-loss drugs, the FDA opened the floodgates to compounders, who began hawking drugs of varying quality. As these drugs have now entered the legitimate supply chain, expanding access would do more harm than good.

Vanity Fair

Why Counterfeit Ozempic Is a Global-Growth Industry

There is a 31% chance that an OECD country will achieve a 10% or greater reduction in the national rate of obesity for 3 consecutive years before 2030, according to the Metaculus prediction community.

Metaculus

Metaculus #

Large obesity drop in OECD country by 2030

***Please Replace***	Scott Olson/Staff/Getty Images News via Getty Images

Eli Lilly Sues Alleged Purveyors of Counterfeit Mounjaro

Medicine & healthcare

Diabetes

Pharmaceuticals

Diseases & conditions

Obesity

A broken insurance and medical system in America has driven desperate patients to counterfeit weight loss drugs. Over 40% of Americans are obese, and they are being shut out by cost-averse insurers and a recalcitrant federal government, which treats obesity drugs as cosmetic interventions rather than medical ones. It would be much better to allow insurers and Medicare to negotiate for these drugs in bulk — prices would be driven down as generics and cheaper versions are gradually introduced.

Drug counterfeiting is a scourge that involves multinational criminals and middlemen who illicitly divert pharmaceuticals from the supply chain. This problem isn't due to the failures of insurers or manufacturers but to the poor enforcement of the law and bad policy. By declaring a shortage of weight-loss drugs, the FDA opened the floodgates to compounders, who began hawking drugs of varying quality. As these drugs have now entered the legitimate supply chain, expanding access would do more harm than good.

Scott Olson/Staff/Getty Images News via Getty Images

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