[1/2]A box of Munjaro, Lilly’s tirzepatide injection used to treat type 2 diabetes, is seen at Rock Canyon Pharmacy in Provo, Utah, USA on March 29, 2023.REUTERS/George Fry/File Photo Obtaining license rights
Sept 19 (Reuters) – Eli Lilly (LLY.N) on Tuesday accused 10 U.S. medical spas, wellness centers and pharmacies of selling products it said contained tirzepatide, the active ingredient in its diabetes drug Munjaro. He announced that he would sue. It was approved as a weight loss drug later this year.
In four separate lawsuits filed in federal courts in Florida and Texas, Eli Lilly seeks an order prohibiting sales of tirzepatide and unspecified damages against Better Life Pharmacy, Revive RX, Rx Compound Store, and Wells Pharmacy Network. I’m looking for.
The Indianapolis-based drug company said four compounding pharmacies that make customized medicines for customers are violating federal and state consumer protection and competition laws by selling unregulated versions of Mounjaro. He is accused of violating the law.
Lilly is the only company approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration to sell the drug tirzepatide.
A drug company has sued six medical spas and wellness centers in Arizona, Florida, Georgia, Minnesota, South Carolina and Utah in federal court, accusing them of trademark infringement by advertising their compounded tirzepatide as Mounjaro. It is seeking a similar injunction and damages.
“Defendants misrepresented their unapproved combination drug purporting to contain tirzepatide as ‘Maunjaro’ in order to attract customers and generate income and profits, including for Maunjaro’s unapproved uses, namely for weight loss. Lilly uses the Lilly trademarks in its trademarks,” Eli Lilly said in the lawsuit.
The defendants either did not immediately respond to requests for comment or could not be reached.
The lawsuit alleges that rival Novo Nordisk (NOVOb.CO), which sells the popular obesity drug Wegoby, has sold several products it claims contain semaglutide, the main ingredient in Wegoby and related diabetes. This comes just over two months after a medical spa and three pharmacies were sued. The drugs Ozempic and Libersus.
“Products that claim to contain tirzepatide that are manufactured and/or distributed by compounding pharmacies or distributed by counterfeit suppliers have been assessed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and other regulatory agencies around the world for safety, It has not been reviewed for quality or effectiveness.”
In May, the FDA warned of the safety risks of using combination and custom versions of popular weight loss drugs such as Wegovy and Ozempic, saying it had received reports of adverse events after patients used combination versions of semaglutide.
However, the agency said that, depending on the circumstances, compounded drugs can be manufactured and distributed with fewer restrictions once the original drug is on the market. Drug shortage listMunjaro is currently doing it.
Analysts and industry executives say annual sales could reach $100 billion within 10 years if weight-loss drugs such as Wegobee and Munjaro are approved as obesity treatments, ultimately leading to Lilly’s products. The company says that this could account for more than half of its sales.
Reporting by Patrick Wingrove; Editing by Bill Berkrot
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