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