Headline: Eli Lilly Targets Vendors Amid Unauthorized Tirzepatid Sales
Eli Lilly and Company, a major pharmaceutical firm, initiated legal action on Monday against three medical spas and online sellers for allegedly marketing counterfeit versions of its weight loss drug Zepbound, which contains the active ingredient tirzepatid. Companies mentioned in the lawsuits include Pivotal Peptides, MangoRx, and Genesis Lifestyle Medicine based in Nevada.
This move by the company follows the U.S. Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) decision earlier this month to remove tirzepatid from its shortage list. Eli Lilly stated that the timing of the lawsuits is unrelated to the FDA’s action and that legal challenges could be initiated independent of the supply situation.
Pivotal Peptides, despite claims of selling for research purposes, is alleged to market tirzepatid-containing products directly to consumers without a prescription. MangoRx is said to offer a compound oral version called Trim, while Genesis Lifestyle Medicine reportedly administers compound tirzepatid with vitamin B12, an untested and unproven safe combination.
A spokesperson for Lilly stated that the lawsuits aim to protect American consumers from potential direct safety risks, indicating that the defendants provided false claims of efficacy and misleading information regarding clinical data. The company had previously sued more than twenty-five organizations for similar reasons, emphasizing that tirzepatid is only FDA approved as an injectable medication.
Legal filings in federal and state courts in Indiana, Texas, and Washington accuse the defendants of false advertising and promotion. Before the lawsuits, Lilly sent a "cease and desist" letter to Pivotal Peptides, after which the company modified its website and continued sales through alternative channels such as email, social media, and word of mouth.
Eli Lilly seeks court orders to prevent the sellers from marketing products purportedly containing tirzepatid and is demanding unspecified monetary damages. The company's commitment to protecting the safety of consumers using their patents and products is further underscored by these legal actions.