Copycat diabetes drugs still available online despite ban

Copycat versions of Eli Lilly's diabetes drug Mounjaro and obesity drug Zepbound were expected to be banned this week. However, many websites are still offering these versions for sale. Online platforms like Amble, EllieMD, Willow, and Mochi Health continue to advertise versions of tirzepatide, the active ingredient in Zepbound. Some sites, like Ivim, have stopped accepting new patients. Mochi Health plans to keep offering these products, claiming they provide personalized options for patients. Compounding pharmacies create specialized drug versions tailored to individual needs. This service is important for patients with certain allergies or those needing specific drug forms. Last year, the FDA declared that brand versions of Mounjaro and Zepbound were no longer in short supply. The agency gave smaller pharmacies until early March and larger ones until now to stop their operations. The FDA's new rules aim to limit the compounding of drugs that are close copies of commercially available ones. Mochi Health argues that its prescriptions are customized and do not violate these rules. However, there is confusion regarding what constitutes a "copy," particularly when combining ingredients like vitamins with the drugs. As enforcement of these new regulations falls to the FDA, it's uncertain how strictly they will be implemented. Some pharmacies have already chosen to stop compounding out of concern for legal risks. Meanwhile, other companies have indicated they will adjust sales in response to the new rules. The situation will develop as the deadline for semaglutide, the active ingredient in Novo Nordisk's Ozempic and Wegovy, approaches later this year.