Lawsuit alleges Lilly, Novo locked up telehealth to kill compounded GLP-1s
A lawsuit claims Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk restricted telehealth partners from working with compounding pharmacies to protect their GLP-1 drug sales.Summary
Strive Specialties, a large compounding pharmacy, has filed a lawsuit alleging that Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk pressured their telehealth partners – including Ro, Weight Watchers, and LifeMD – to cease collaborations with compounding pharmacies. These pharmacies create lower-cost, personalized versions of drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy. The lawsuit asserts that these agreements limit patient and prescriber choice, hindering access to more affordable medication options. Novo Nordisk reportedly ended a partnership with Hims & Hers when the company continued to sell compounded versions of Wegovy. Lilly has previously sued Strive, alleging deceptive marketing practices, but the case was dismissed and refiled in Arizona. While the FDA previously classified GLP-1 drugs as being in shortage, allowing compounding, some pharmacies continue to offer “personalized” versions. Novo Nordisk CEO Mike Doustdar estimates that approximately 1.5 million US patients currently use compounded versions of their drugs, attributing the demand to price sensitivity.
(Source：Google News)