Protect Yourself Against Counterfeit, Fake, and Unsafe or Untested Compounded Products
The Risks of Counterfeit and Compounded Medicine
As a medicine company, we believe that everyone who needs medicine deserves real medicine. That’s why we make medicine that is clinically tested and evaluated by regulators for safety and effectiveness.
In today’s society, health is a top concern, yet many discussions center on unproven products and treatments that claim to be alternatives to real medicine. These products are being mass-marketed and sold online, through social media, at certain med-spas, compounding pharmacies and wellness centers, and they put people at risk.
We want to make sure you have the information you need to protect yourself against counterfeit, fake, and unsafe or untested compounded knock-offs of Lilly medicine.
Counterfeit / Fake Products: Counterfeit or fake products are made and sold in a manner that falsely represents their authenticity, origin or effectiveness. According to the FDA, counterfeit products “may contain the wrong ingredients, contain too much, too little or no active ingredient at all or contain other harmful ingredients.” They may also be made in unsanitary conditions by unregulated entities without adequate skill or training. Counterfeit products are often advertised and sold online, through social media or at certain med-spas.
Compounded Products: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) defines drug compounding as the “process of combining, mixing, or altering ingredients to create a medication tailored to the needs of an individual patient.” This practice is permitted in limited circumstances to address individual patient needs, such as making a medicine without a dye that a patient is allergic to. However, compounded products are never FDA-approved.
Mass Compounding of Tirzepatide Must Stop
On March 5, a federal court confirmed that compounders, telehealth companies, med-spas, and everyone else “must cease production” of knockoffs of Lilly’s FDA-approved tirzepatide medicines. Anyone continuing to sell mass compounded tirzepatide products, including by referring to them as “personalized,” “tailored” or something similar, is breaking the law and putting patient safety at risk.
Recent News on Counterfeit and Compounded Medicine
FAQs and Resources
What We’re Doing About It
Our Stance
Recent news from us about safe treatments.
News Releases:
Regulator and Public Health Reports
Regulators and public health organizations, including the FDA, State Boards of Pharmacy, foreign governments, the World Health Organization and others have issued reports on counterfeit and compounded products. Many of those reports are linked below.
Patient Advocacy Groups
Patient advocacy groups have also spoken out against counterfeit and compounded versions of "tirzepatide" given the risks these products pose to patients.