Novo Nordisk (NYSE: NVO) has escalated its legal battles in the healthcare sector by filing a lawsuit against another semaglutide compounder, increasing the total number of such cases to 50. The Danish pharmaceutical giant, along with Eli Lilly (NYSE: LLY), has initiated legal campaigns targeting medical spas, weight loss clinics, and compounding pharmacies that market their own versions of the popular weight loss and diabetes drugs.
In a recent development favorable to compounders, the FDA indicated it would reconsider the removal of Lilly’s tirzepatide from its national shortage list, potentially allowing some compounders to sell their versions while the agency evaluates. Compounding is permitted when a drug must be modified to suit a patient’s needs or during shortages.
Novo Nordisk continues to report “limited availability” for one dose of its weight loss drug Wegovy, as per the FDA’s shortage database. However, the company persists in its legal action against compounders, arguing that deceptive marketing could mislead patients into believing the compounded products are FDA-approved or genuine Novo products.
During September and October, Novo Nordisk filed 18 new lawsuits against compounders. The most recent lawsuit targets Advanced Vitality HRT, a medical clinic based in Cincinnati. Advanced Vitality was not available for immediate comment.
“As the FDA has cautioned, unapproved compounded ‘semaglutide’ drugs do not have the same safety, quality, and effectiveness assurances as Novo Nordisk’s FDA-approved semaglutide medicines, and patients should not use a compounded drug if an approved drug is available,” a Novo Nordisk spokesperson stated on Monday.
The company noted an increase in adverse event reports following the rise in the use of compounded semaglutide products. The spokesperson declared that Novo will “continue to pursue legal action against other entities engaged in similar conduct.”- Flcube.com
