The mounting conversations around compounded GLP-1 medications aren’t just about science or safety. Rather, lawsuits and corporate power plays have had massive influence on how these drugs are being perceived and doctors’ ability to make the best treatment decisions for their patients. Most recently, Eli Lilly issued a lawsuit against Mochi Health, the physician-led obesity care platform I founded, challenging our use of compounded tirzepatide formulations.
While misinformation around compounding is nothing new, the lawsuit has spurred a new cycle of discussion around safety, regulation, and the right of physicians to prescribe personalized, affordable care. But here’s what’s getting lost in the noise: not every patient fits into a one-size-fits-all box. They may need a lower dose, a different delivery method, or a formulation that avoids allergens or side effects.
The bottom line? Compounded medication is what makes this kind of ultra-personalized, patient-first treatment possible — and more affordable. So, as the healthcare industry watches this case unfold, we have to ask — are we really protecting patients here, or protecting profits?
As the CEO of Mochi Health, I want to clear up the confusion around what compounding actually means, why the impact of this lawsuit stretched far beyond our company, and why protecting safe, customized care for patients should be the real priority.
Compounding is the original personalized medicine
Compounded medications exist because not every patient can safely take a drug in its commercial form. The future of medicine will be personalized, taking patients’ specific medical history into account when prescribing care.
Hand-tailored treatment plans are especially crucial for issues as nuanced as obesity, which is often tied to a number of other medical conditions and considerations. For example, some patients are treated for obesity in tandem with PCOS, requiring specific doses or additives. Others suffering from vicious side effects, such as nausea or vomiting, may require vitamin supplements to reduce their discomfort. And those with aversions to needles have the option to opt for oral medication.
The FDA recognizes this and, under Sections 503A and 503B, compounding is explicitly legal and essential. These aren’t loopholes — they’re part of a system designed to make sure people get the care they need when standard drug options fall short.
Millions of Americans depend on compounded medicine every day — in cancer care, dermatology, pediatrics, women’s health. GLP-1s are simply the latest example. Yet this trusted, necessary practice is suddenly being dragged into court.
Eli Lilly’s lawsuit attempts to blur the lines between clinical care and commercial strategy
Mochi Health was named in Eli Lilly’s recent lawsuit targeting providers and pharmacies that offer compounded tirzepatide.
Let’s be clear about what we do. Mochi doesn’t make or sell compounded medications. We’re a physician-led medical practice focused on offering patients personalized, evidence-based care. We prescribe these medications only when they’re appropriate for a patient’s specific needs and legally allowed.
This lawsuit is about control — who gets to decide how patients receive care. At stake is the ability of doctors to make the right call for their patients when off-the-shelf, branded drugs are not the right fit. Safety is always part of the conversation — which is something Mochi takes seriously.
Compounded GLP-1s are safe when properly sourced and prescribed
At Mochi, we only work with licensed and accredited 503A pharmacies that follow strict federal and state guidelines. Every prescription gets reviewed and approved by a board-certified physician.
And unlike mass-produced drugs, compounded medications are tested for potency and sterility in every batch before they ever reach a patient.
Still, there’s a lot of misinformation out there — which can make patients worry unnecessarily. As healthcare providers, it’s on us to explain the difference between safe, regulated compounders and those who cut corners.
But safety is just one piece of the puzzle. The other — and often overlooked — challenge is ensuring that these treatments remain accessible to those who need them most.
The industry narrative ignores the real barrier: Accessibility
There’s no denying that GLP-1 medications are game-changing for treating obesity and related chronic conditions. But the reality is, the high cost of branded versions puts them out of reach for too many Americans — especially those without insurance or with poor coverage.
Pharmaceutical companies have a clear financial incentive to limit compounded alternatives. But keeping patients from affordable options doesn’t solve the healthcare crisis — it only makes it worse.
Even though the FDA recently removed some GLP-1 drugs from its official shortage list, compounded versions that are meaningfully different — by FDA definition — remain legal, needed, and in some cases the best choice for certain patients.
And that’s why this lawsuit isn’t just about market share. It’s about whether healthcare stays patient-first — or profit-first.
This isn’t just a legal fight — it’s a healthcare equity issue
Obesity affects more than 40% of Americans. It’s a complex, chronic disease that demands more than blockbuster drugs. It requires new models of care that are affordable, scalable, and led by clinicians — not by market forces.
At Mochi, our care model is built to serve real people with real needs — including offering compounded medications when they make sense. Our physicians don’t prescribe these lightly — but sometimes they are the right option. And when they are, patients deserve access to them — without fear, confusion, or unnecessary barriers.
This lawsuit may look like a business dispute on the surface. But underneath, it’s about something much more important: the right of patients to receive personalized, affordable care.
Life-changing obesity medications shouldn’t be gatekept by lawsuits or profit motives. As regulators, providers, and industry leaders navigate these issues, we have to stay focused on what matters most: evidence, ethics, and patients — not patents.
The future of chronic disease care—and the ability for patients to get the treatment that’s right for them — depends on it.
Author bio:
Dr. Myra Ahmad, founder and CEO of Mochi Health, is dedicated to revolutionizing obesity care by providing patients with accessible, evidence-based weight management programs. Driven to minimize healthcare disparities and provider biases, she champions personalized, holistic care that empowers patients.
Dr. Ahmad received her MD from the University of Washington School of Medicine, and has held research positions at the MIT Koch Institute for Integrative Cancer Research, UCSF Medical Center, and University of California, San Francisco.
Photo: Gearstd, Getty Images