4 Telehealth Firms Sued by Eli Lilly Over Alleged Illegal Weight Loss Drug Sales

Eli Lilly has launched lawsuits against four telehealth companies, accusing them of distributing unauthorized versions of its popular medications Zepbound and Mounjaro, which are widely used for weight loss and type 2 diabetes treatment. The lawsuits, filed on April 23, target Mochi Health, Fella Health, Willow Health, and Henry Meds.

According to Lilly, these companies are misleading patients with unproven, unapproved alternatives, claiming to offer personalized treatments while actually pushing mass-manufactured knockoffs of Lilly’s patented drugs. In some cases, the altered products—sold as oral pills or liquid drops—have not undergone clinical testing.

The situation escalated during the Mounjaro supply shortage that began in late 2022. During that period, pharmacies were allowed to compound tirzepatide, the drug’s active ingredient, under emergency rules. However, the FDA recently declared the shortage officially over, meaning that such compounding should cease. Yet, some companies continue production, making slight formula changes to evade regulatory oversight.

Lilly had already sued two compounding pharmacies earlier this year. Now, it alleges that telehealth platforms are crossing legal lines, with some even exerting undue influence over prescribing doctors. Notably, Lilly claims that Mochi Health’s CEO is not a licensed physician, and that the company’s staff pressured healthcare providers into altering prescriptions.

One of the defendants, Mochi Health, has publicly said it will keep offering its version of tirzepatide, arguing that medical professionals have the discretion to provide customized care. But Lilly contends this is a misuse of medical authority, likening it to unauthorized medical practice.

In all four cases, Lilly is asking the courts to block these platforms from advertising or selling tirzepatide-based products. Legal proceedings could take months or even years to resolve, but the pharmaceutical giant appears ready to fight aggressively to protect its blockbuster drugs.