Lilly sues online vendors, medical spa over copycat weight-loss drugs

Eli Lilly said on Monday it sued three medical spas and online vendors for selling products claiming to contain tirzepatide, the main ingredient in its popular weight-loss medicine Zepbound, including in the form of dissolvable tablets.

The new lawsuits, which name Pivotal Peptides, MangoRx and Genesis Lifestyle Medicine of Nevada, are the first related to copycat tirzepatide filed since the U.S. Food and Drug Administration took the drug off its list of medicines in short supply earlier this month.

Lilly said these lawsuits were not in any way contingent on tirzepatide coming off of that list and could have been filed regardless of whether supply issues had been resolved.

Pivotal Peptides says it offers research grade tirzepatide, while MangoRx sells a compounded version, both online. Medical spa Genesis sells and administers compounded versions of the drug, according to the lawsuits.

Lilly has accused Pivotal Peptides of selling products claiming to contain tirzepatide directly to patients without any prescription from a medical professional, despite advertising the drugs for research purposes.

The lawsuits were filed in federal and state courts in Indiana, Texas and Washington, accusing each defendant of false advertising and promotion. Lilly said it sent a cease and desist letter to Pivotal Peptides before filing the lawsuit.

"Lilly is bringing these actions to protect American consumers from direct patient safety risks," said a spokesperson for the drugmaker, adding that the defendants were making false claims about efficacy or safety, and misleading consumers about the clinical data used to back them.

The Indianapolis-based drugmaker has already sued more than two dozen medical spas, wellness centers and compounding