Several medi spas and compounding pharmacies have come under fire from Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk for selling products allegedly containing ingredients from popular weight loss drugs produced by these companies. These ingredients include tirzepatide and semaglutide, respectively.

Most recently, Lilly reached a settlement agreement with Totality Medispa after discovering the medispa had sold counterfeit versions of Zepbound, a popular weight loss treatment, and Mounjaro, a famous diabetes drug.

As part of the settlement, Totality Medispa will make an undisclosed monetary payment to Eli Lilly and will cease using any promotion or branding by Lilly for its products. Although Totality’s website does not mention tirzepatide or any brand-name products, its Instagram page includes a link to a Zepbound savings card, which redirects users to Lilly’s coverage site.

Additionally, Totality Medispa will be held responsible for obtaining and distributing compounded tirzepatide products produced in compliance with federal law. This is one of several corrective actions taken against the medispa.

Furthermore, the spa is required to post a notice on its website clearly stating that none of the compounded versions of tirzepatide displayed are approved by any reputable global agencies, including the FDA. These products have not been reviewed for quality, efficacy, or safety.

Regarding the situation, Lilly said, “While this agreement is an important step forward, this is not a problem that Lilly can solve alone. We strongly support state and federal regulators taking action to deter and punish compounding pharmacies, counterfeiters, and others who put patients at risk by selling unsafe products claiming to be tirzepatide.”

Similarly, Novo Nordisk has sued several sellers of knockoff semaglutide drugs, and two of these cases were settled in February. Last year, the firm also sued a compounding pharmacy.

Notably, Novo Nordisk refiled a lawsuit against another firm, discovering their drug contained over 30% impurities despite claiming it had the same active ingredient as Novo’s in-demand weight-loss drug Wegovy.

Totality Medispa has also drawn Novo’s ire by listing “semaglutide (Ozempic) injection” on their website, linking directly to Novo Nordisk’s product website under the list of weight loss drugs.

Compounded drugs typically contain the same active ingredients as the brand-name drugs but have some customization within their composition. Their production does not undergo the same level of regulatory scrutiny and is relatively cheaper.

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