> Why are Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk suing compounding pharmacies, then?
> Why is the FDA warning that some compounding pharmacies are using the salt forms of semaglutide and tirzepatide?
because $
$$$$$$$$$$$$
that's why. not safety. MONEY.
while there may be some very shady sources of fake grey/black market semiglutide that should be avoided, there are also the legal "compounders" who produce white-ish/grey market semiglutide. in the later case, it's the same active ingredient. the FDA, in it's infinite infallible wisdom (and $$$$$$$ pressure from pharma) refuses to acknowledge that while there is a tiny risk that the different buffers, processing methods, delivery and non-active ingredients, etc. have "not been studied" and might not be "less effective", that these are really small risks. tiny.
i feel like the FDA deliberately conflates the dangers of questionable overseas knock-offs with the legitimately pure, regulated, legal products of compounders.
are these guys violating a patent or two? meh? (note: this is a tort, but is not illegal) so sue them. but is it safe? it's as safe as anything else the FDA allows.
meanwhile we keep supporting a system of patents in medicine (and software) that are actively doing exactly the opposite of what the system was put in place for: stifling innovation instead of encouraging it. padding the rich cats pockets instead of giving the small guys a chance.