Eli Lilly and Company (NYSE: LLY) filed six new lawsuits against U.S. entities selling black-market retatrutide, an investigational drug that has not been approved for human use by any regulatory agency worldwide, according to a company statement issued Aug. 12, 2026.

The lawsuits target compounding pharmacies, medical spas, and online sellers operating in Texas and California, including Aesthetic Envy Cosmetic Centers LLC, Astra LLC (d/b/a Astra Peptides), Legendary Peptides LLC, Striker Pharmacy LLC, Texas Peptides Inc., and Lone Star Peptide Co.

Retatrutide is currently in Phase 3 clinical trials for obesity, type 2 diabetes, and related conditions. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has stated that sales of unapproved retatrutide to consumers are illegal and that the drug cannot be lawfully compounded.

"What is being sold on the black market is not a medicine – it is entirely unverified, unapproved and not worth the risk," said David A. Hyman, M.D., Lilly's chief medical officer.

Lilly said it has referred more than 200 individuals and entities to the FDA, the U.S. Department of Justice, state attorneys general, and law enforcement agencies. The company also reported more than 14,000 websites, advertisements, social media posts, and product listings marketing retatrutide unlawfully across more than 100 countries.

Lilly is calling on social media platforms, e-commerce companies, credit card companies, payment processors, and shipping carriers to cut off services used by illegal sellers. The company also urged drug regulators and law enforcement agencies to coordinate across borders to address what it described as an illegal market.