Eli Lilly Sues Six US Firms Over Unapproved Weight-Loss Drug Retatrutide

Eli Lilly announced on August 12 that it has filed lawsuits against six U. S. companies for illegally selling retatrutide, an unapproved experimental obesity drug. The defendants, including compounding pharmacies, medical spas, and online sellers, are accused of marketing the product to consumers while it remains in clinical development. Retatrutide is currently undergoing Phase III clinical trials for obesity, type 2 diabetes, and related conditions, and has not received approval from any regulatory authority.

In June 2026, the U. Food and Drug Administration stated that selling retatrutide and other unapproved GLP-1 products to consumers is illegal and cannot be lawfully compounded. Eli Lilly said it has referred more than 200 individuals and entities to the agency, the Department of Justice, state attorneys general, law enforcement, and professional licensing boards. The company also called on social media platforms, e-commerce platforms, payment processors, credit card companies, shipping firms, and regulators to take stronger action against sellers of unapproved retatrutide products.

Data from U. Customs and Border Protection show that in fiscal year 2025, the agency intercepted more than 690 shipments totaling over 31,000 units of illegal GLP-1 drugs. In July 2026 alone, that figure more than doubled, with over 1,400 seizures and nearly 90,000 vials intercepted.

The six lawsuits target Aesthetic Envy medical spa, Astra, Legendary Peptides, Striker Pharmacy, Texas Peptides, and Lone Star Peptide.