Glass vials
Adobe

There’s a war brewing over blockbuster weight loss medications — and patients are now getting caught in the crossfire.

Last week, the Food and Drug Administration declared an end to the shortage of Eli Lilly’s tirzepatide, sold under the brand name Mounjaro for diabetes and Zepbound for obesity. The move was a clear warning to compounders that they can no longer make copycat versions of the drugs — a process that is only permitted when the medications are on an official agency shortage list.

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On Thursday, Lilly, which has long warned about the risks of knockoff products, also ramped up its fight against compounders, sending hundreds of cease-and-desist letters telling them and telehealth platforms to stop making their versions. 

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