Lilly files six more lawsuits against med spas selling compounded tirzepatide

Eli Lilly and Company filed six new lawsuits in late June 2024 against medical spas and wellness centers accused of selling compounded tirzepatide products while misleading customers into thinking they were getting FDA-approved Mounjaro or Zepbound ^[1]. The lawsuits were filed in courts in Ohio, Texas, Hawaii, and the District of Columbia ^[1]. Over time, Lilly has sued more than two dozen sellers as part of a broader legal campaign against unauthorized tirzepatide products ^[1].

The June filings followed an earlier case against a med spa called Totality Medispa, which Lilly sued in fall 2023 over similar allegations ^[1]. That case ended in a settlement in May 2024. Totality Medispa agreed to make a monetary payment, stop using Eli Lilly branding, and stop suggesting its compounded products were the genuine article ^[1]. The spa also agreed to only obtain compounded tirzepatide made in compliance with US law, report any adverse events to the FDA, and post a warning on its website and ads stating that its compounded tirzepatide is not FDA approved ^[1].

Alongside the June lawsuits, Lilly published an open letter laying out its concerns ^[1]. The company said Mounjaro and Zepbound are approved to treat diabetes and obesity, not for cosmetic weight loss, and must be prescribed by a health care practitioner ^[1]. Lilly also said the products are not approved for anyone under 18 and expressed concern that social media posts and ads were reaching that age group ^[1]. The company stated that Mounjaro and Zepbound are the only FDA-approved tirzepatide medicines, that it does not supply tirzepatide to compounding pharmacies, medical spas, wellness centers, or online retailers, and that it does not know where these sellers are getting their tirzepatide ^[1]. Lilly said compounded drugs carry more risk than FDA-approved medicines, citing possible bacterial contamination, different chemical structures, high impurity levels, and products that may lack the active ingredient entirely ^[1]. The letter included a visual guide meant to help people identify authentic Mounjaro and Zepbound packaging ^[1].

Why it matters for patients

Demand for GLP-1 drugs has outpaced supply, and that gap has pushed some medical spas to offer compounded versions marketed as equivalent to the brand-name drugs ^[1]. Compounded tirzepatide is not FDA-approved, and Lilly says it has no way to verify the safety, sterility, or actual ingredient content of products made outside its own manufacturing ^[1]. For patients, that means a product bought at a med spa or online retailer advertising