Lilly Suing Strive and Empower Pharmacies over Compound Tirzepatide
- Dave Knapp
- Apr 1
- 2 min read
For those still holding onto hope that compounded tirzepatide would survive beyond the shortage window, today’s news might feel like the final nail.
As reported by Reuters, Eli Lilly has officially filed lawsuits against two compounders: Strive Pharmacy and Empower Clinic Services. Lilly is accusing them of selling unauthorized versions of tirzepatide, the active ingredient in Mounjaro and Zepbound. The company also says it’s about to send cease and desist letters to about 50 more pharmacies and telehealth companies, demanding they immediately stop mass-producing any compounded versions.
This isn’t a warning shot. This is the actual takedown.
Both lawsuits claim the pharmacies are making unapproved copies of Lilly’s drug and even piggybacking off Lilly’s clinical trial data to market their compounded products. Empower is selling both injectable and oral versions of tirzepatide, with no clear explanation of how they’re getting oral absorption to work. Strive is adding glycine and vitamin B12 and implying it’s an upgrade.
To be fair, compounding played a real role during the darkest stretch of the shortage. It filled a gap when insurance would not cover Zepbound, and pharmacies couldn’t keep Mounjaro in stock. People desperate for help found relief through compounders. But that time is ending.
Lilly says their supply is now stable. The FDA has taken tirzepatide off the shortage list. And a federal judge recently ruled that pharmacies can’t legally compound tirzepatide anymore unless it’s listed as in shortage. It’s not.
We knew this moment was coming. I’ve been saying for months that compounded tirzepatide was on borrowed time, and this feels like the expiration date.
The system failed people long before the lawyers showed up, with branded versions of these medications costing Americans a hefty sum compared to other countries. But let’s be honest, the shortages allowed compounders to create price pressure on Lilly (and Novo). Their lower prices forced a conversation that Big Pharma would rather not have. And in the end, it probably pushed Lilly to do something pharma has never done before: offer Zepbound vials directly to patients for $499 a month, no insurance required. That doesn’t happen without compounders eating into market share. But now that Lilly’s supply is back and the lawsuits have started flying, access to compounded tirzepatide is about to dry up fast. If you’re still on a compound, now is the time to look at other options. That might mean fighting for prior auths, switching meds, or jumping on the $499 offer before it disappears. Whatever it is At On The Pen, we are committed to bringing you content that will help you navigate this difficult landscape.
Compounding GLP-1 meds moved the needle in a way that all the legislation in my lifetime has failed to.
You can read the original article from Reuters here.
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