Dr. Gerard Acloque, a physician at Florida Concierge Medicine & Wellness, has expressed concerns over Eli Lilly's legal actions against compounding pharmacies. He described the pharmaceutical company's efforts as an attempt to shut down these pharmacies under the pretext of ensuring patient safety. This statement was made in a video on YouTube.
"Now, this lawsuit isn't just a slap on the wrist," said Acloque, Doctor, according to YouTube. "Lilly is actually trying to push, they're pushing to shut them down altogether. They say to protect the patients from potentially dangerous copies. It's probably more due to their need to protect their investment in their R&D."
In early 2025, Eli Lilly significantly increased its federal lobbying expenditure to $3.4 million, nearly doubling its spending from the previous year. This increase coincided with the company's legal pursuits against compounding pharmacies producing lower-cost versions of tirzepatide, the active ingredient in its medications Zepbound and Mounjaro. These lawsuits were initiated after the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) declared that tirzepatide was no longer in shortage, thereby limiting compounding pharmacies' ability to continue production. Critics argue that Eli Lilly's strategies focus more on protecting corporate profits than on providing patients with affordable medication options. Endpoints News reported that this surge in lobbying reflects Eli Lilly's intent to safeguard its market share.
Eli Lilly has filed lawsuits against several compounding pharmacies, including Empower Pharmacy, for manufacturing and distributing unapproved versions of its GLP-1 drugs, Mounjaro and Zepbound. The company alleges that these compounded medications are being mass-produced without proper FDA approval. However, Empower Pharmacy maintains that it operates legally to fulfill patient needs during drug shortages. According to The Houston Chronicle, this legal dispute highlights the ongoing tension between large pharmaceutical companies seeking to protect their patents and compounding pharmacies aiming to offer affordable alternatives.
Health.com reports that compounded medications come in various forms—such as capsules, solutions, creams, and ointments—to address issues like allergies to inactive ingredients or difficulties swallowing standard pills. These customized formulations allow pharmacists to modify drug concentrations and delivery methods to enhance adherence and effectiveness for specialized patient groups like pediatric or geriatric populations. The FDA advises using compounded drugs only when no FDA-approved alternative is available due to potential safety risks associated with non-standardized preparations.
Dr. Gerard Acloque Jr., MD, is a board-certified internal medicine physician based in Hollywood, Florida. He received his medical degree from Universidad de Guadalajara and completed his residency in internal medicine in Ponce, Puerto Rico, in 2016. Dr. Acloque is trilingual and has experience serving patients across various healthcare settings. His practice focuses on a holistic approach to medicine through services such as telehealth visits and home consultations while emphasizing accessibility and personalized care for both acute and chronic health conditions.