Eli Lilly Files Lawsuits Over Illegal Sale of Investigational Obesity, Diabetes Drug in US

06:35 AM EDT, 08/12/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Eli Lilly (LLY.F, LLY.SW) filed six new cases against US-based entities that are illegally selling retatrutide, its investigational drug for obesity and type 2 diabetes, as a weight-loss "hack." The pharmaceutical giant said Wednesday that the compounding pharmacies, medical spas, and online sellers named in its lawsuits have made false claims that the retatrutide products are for "research-use only" despite selling them for human consumption. Lilly emphasized that the drug's safety and efficacy are still being evaluated in clinical trials, adding that the retatrutide being sold on the black market "is not a medicine - it is entirely unverified, unapproved and not worth the risk." Lilly also called on regulators, law enforcement agencies, as well as third-party entities, including social media and e-commerce platforms, credit card companies, payment processors, and shipping and logistics carriers, to help crack down on this illegal activity.