Houston-based Empower Pharmacy has responded to a lawsuit filed by Eli Lilly, stating that the legal action is an attempt by "Big Pharma" to test its power. The pharmacy claims the lawsuit aims to limit patient and provider choice and restrict access to individualized treatment.
"It's about Big Pharma testing its power, challenging healthcare companies like Empower who prioritize personalized, affordable care over profit," said Empower in a statement.
Eli Lilly's lawsuit, filed in April 2025, accuses Empower of copying and distributing compounded versions of medications that Lilly manufactures. According to Empower, the real issue at hand is that "compounding medications, customized for individual needs, threaten" the traditional model of mass-produced commercial drugs.
Empower Pharmacy is one of the largest compounding pharmacies in the United States. It operates a 503A facility for patient-specific prescriptions and a 503B outsourcing facility for office-use medications. Compounding pharmacies create customized medications tailored to individual patient needs when commercially available drugs are unsuitable due to allergies, dosage requirements, or delivery methods.
Hospitals across the country rely on compounded medications for patients with unique clinical needs. A report from the National Center for Biotechnology Information highlights how compounding helps institutions provide correct dosages and forms for specific patients such as neonates and chemotherapy patients.
Compounding pharmacists can also address medication adherence by converting prescriptions into more accessible alternatives like topical gels or liquids. A 2023 policy paper published in *Pharmacy* noted that compounding pharmacies play a critical role in expanding medication access, particularly for rare diseases and unmet patient needs.
Empower serves millions of patients and tens of thousands providers nationwide and positions itself as a leader in pharmaceutical compounding with a focus on quality and regulatory compliance.