Lilly files six lawsuits over illegal sales of unapproved obesity drug retatrutide
Eli Lilly (LLY) has filed six lawsuits against US companies it accuses of illegally selling unauthorized versions of its experimental obesity drug retatrutide, escalating its crackdown on black-market sellers before the medicine has received regulatory approval.
The Indianapolis-based drugmaker said the suits target a range of businesses — including compounding pharmacies, medical spas and online retailers — that allegedly marketed retatrutide products to consumers despite the drug remaining under clinical development. The six defendants are Aesthetic Envy Cosmetic Centers, Astra LLC, Legendary Peptides, Striker Pharmacy, Texas Peptides and Lone Star Peptide Co.
Retatrutide is still in Phase 3 clinical trials for obesity, type 2 diabetes and other related conditions. No regulator has approved the compound for human use. In June, the US Food and Drug Administration stated that sales of retatrutide and other unapproved GLP-1 products are illegal and cannot lawfully be compounded.
"What is being sold on the black market is not a medicine — it is entirely unverified, unapproved and not worth the risk," said Dr. David Hyman, Lilly's chief medical officer.
Demand for obesity treatments has fueled a thriving online market for products claiming to contain weight-loss drugs. Some sellers have promoted retatrutide through websites, social media and businesses presenting themselves as medical providers, despite sourcing products from unregulated manufacturers, Lilly said.
The company added that it has referred more than 200 individuals and entities to the FDA, the US Justice Department, state attorneys general, law enforcement agencies and professional licensing boards. Beyond the lawsuits, Lilly called on social media and e-commerce platforms, payment processors, credit card companies and shipping firms to take stronger action against sellers of unapproved retatrutide products.
US Customs and Border Protection intercepted more than 690 shipments — totaling over 31,000 units — of illicit GLP-1 drugs during fiscal year 2025. In July alone, those figures more than doubled, with over 1,400 seizures and nearly 90,000 vials intercepted.
"Every single time that someone takes one of these, they're exposing themselves to a huge amount of risk," said Dr. Max Denning, associate vice president and therapeutic area lead for global patient safety in cardiometabolic health at Lilly.