Eli Lilly filed six lawsuits against U.S. medical spas and online sellers for marketing unapproved versions of retatrutide. The legal action targets a growing black market for the company’s experimental next-generation weight-loss treatment.
Retatrutide is currently in late-stage clinical trials and has not received FDA approval. Promising early data has driven significant illicit demand for the drug despite the lack of regulatory clearance. Lilly states these unauthorized products pose a direct danger to consumers.
The company has referred over 200 entities to law enforcement and regulators worldwide. Lilly is also urging social media platforms and payment processors to take stronger action to block these sales. This campaign aims to protect intellectual property and patient safety amid intense public interest in new obesity treatments.