Telehealth firms receive 25 warning letters from the US FDA regarding weight-loss medication claims.

The US FDA has sent 25 warning letters to telehealth firms, citing false advertising for compounded versions of two blockbuster medications: Eli Lilly's and Novo Nordisk's highly sought-after treatments for weight loss and diabetes management.

Posted online by the health regulator on Tuesday, 25 warning letters were issued to firms such as Medica Weight Loss, Ready Med, and Clover Meds earlier this month.

As part of its ongoing efforts to regulate compounded medications, the health authority issued a new round of warning letters to several telehealth companies.

Telehealth firms made unsubstantiated claims on their websites about the origin and efficacy of their compounded weight-loss medications, specifically tirzepatide and semaglutide, according to 25 warning letters from the US FDA.

The FDA has flagged several telehealth firms for making unsubstantiated claims about their weight-loss medications. Specifically, these companies have misrepresented their compounded semaglutide and tirzepatide products as equivalent to approved GLP-1 treatments or presented them in a manner that suggests they manufacture the exact same drugs.

Tirzepatide serves as the primary component of Lilly's injectable obesity treatment Zepbound and diabetes medication Mounjaro, whereas semaglutide is utilized in Ozempic for diabetes management and Wegovy for weight loss.

The public has a right to accurate information about the treatments they're receiving. Compounded GLP-1 products lack evidence of safety, efficacy, or consistent quality compared to FDA-approved medications, according to Michael Davis, acting director of the Center for Drug Evaluation and Research at the US FDA.

Companies will remain under scrutiny.

Customized medications are created through the combination, mixing, or alteration of existing drugs by licensed pharmacists or physicians to cater to specific patient requirements. The FDA has not sanctioned these versions.

In April, the regulatory body proposed removing Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly's weight-loss medications from a crucial compounding list, affecting mass production by outsourced facilities significantly.

As part of its ongoing efforts to regulate compounded medications,the health authority issued a new round of warning letters to several telehealth companies.