Eli Lilly files six lawsuits over retatrutide sales

• Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) filed six new lawsuits against U.S. entities accused of selling unapproved retatrutide products.
• The company said it has referred more than 200 individuals and entities to regulators and reported more than 14,000 online listings linked to illegal retatrutide sales.
• Lilly is asking online platforms, payment companies and logistics providers to help stop the distribution of unapproved retatrutide products.

Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE:LLY) filed six lawsuits against U.S. businesses accused of selling black-market retatrutide products, while the company continues efforts to report illegal sales to regulators and law enforcement.

The action comes as retatrutide remains an investigational medicine in Phase 3 clinical trials, with no regulatory approval for human use in any country, while the company previously reported clinical development progress for obesity and type 2 diabetes treatments.

“Retatrutide is being rigorously studied as part of a comprehensive clinical trial development program,” said Eli Lilly and Company Chief Medical Officer David A. Hyman, M.D.

The lawsuits target compounding pharmacies, medical spas and online sellers that Lilly said market retatrutide products for human use, while the company has reported more than 14,000 websites, advertisements, social media posts and product listings across more than 100 countries.

Lilly said it is seeking support from regulators, social media platforms, e-commerce companies, payment processors and logistics providers to reduce access to unapproved retatrutide products.

The company said retatrutide is being evaluated through clinical trials and that unapproved versions sold to consumers are not authorized medicines, while regulators including the U.S. Food and Drug Administration have warned about risks linked to unapproved drug products.

Eli Lilly and Company has expanded legal and regulatory actions against unauthorized sellers as it develops medicines in areas including diabetes, obesity and other health conditions, with retatrutide remaining under clinical investigation.