Eli Lilly’s lawsuit accused Washington-state vendor Pivotal Peptides of selling a do-it-yourself kit intended to imitate its tirzepatide medicines, Zepbound and Mounjaro. An email attributed to the company’s registered agent allegedly referred to the product as “11mg” and told customers not to use “T” in correspondence, according to Ars Technica’s October 22, 2024 report. Those are allegations described in a complaint, not findings that a court has established.
What Lilly alleged about the product
According to Ars Technica’s account of Lilly’s complaint, Pivotal Peptides sold research-grade tirzepatide powder alongside sterile water and instructions for customers to mix and inject it. The suit reportedly alleged that the kit was meant to produce an injectable imitation of Zepbound and Mounjaro, Lilly medicines based on tirzepatide.
The report described product materials as labeled for research and veterinary use, while also saying customers could order without a prescription or medical consultation. It recounted instructions involving surface disinfection, mixing the powder to a stated concentration, and self-injection. Ars did not independently test the product; these details describe materials and allegations cited in the lawsuit.
Lilly reportedly said in a July 2024 cease-and-desist letter that the material appeared to be research-grade tirzepatide, was not purified to pharmaceutical-grade levels, and was not appropriate or approved for human use. Ars reported that Pivotal Peptides did not respond to the letter. The report did not identify the company as a licensed pharmacy or dispensary.
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How “11mg” allegedly became a code word
Ars reported that the company’s website was later marked down for maintenance and customers were told to email. Around ten days after that change, registered agent Elizabeth Gately allegedly emailed customers that the product name could no longer be used in correspondence, referred to it as “11mg,” and instructed them not to use “T.”
“Therefore, I need another identifier and decided (for now) to call this peptide ’11mg.’”
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Ars described this wording as reproduced from an email discussed in Lilly’s suit. It is an allegation about the company’s communications, not proof that a court found the code was used to evade enforcement or conceal sales. Ars also reported that Pivotal Peptides did not respond to its request for comment.
What the allegations do—and do not—say about safety
Lilly told Ars that the conduct it alleged posed “serious risks to patient safety.” A Lilly spokesperson also said: “No one should ever be allowed to sell these untested, non-human grade or manipulated drugs to American consumers.” Those are the company’s statements, not regulatory findings or a court’s conclusion about this product.
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The report’s allegations concern this vendor and this purported kit. They do not establish that all compounded medicines or all peptide vendors are unsafe or engaged in similar conduct. The available account also does not establish what happened to the case after the complaint was filed; a later ruling, settlement, or other outcome should not be inferred from the allegations alone.
Why the October 2024 FDA context is not current guidance
Ars placed the dispute against a changing shortage and compounding backdrop: it said the FDA announced on October 2, 2024 that the tirzepatide shortage had ended, then reconsidered that decision after compounding pharmacies sued. The article also noted that licensed pharmacies could compound tirzepatide while it was in shortage and that the FDA had warned about safety concerns with compounded GLP-1 drugs.
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That is a description of the situation reported in October 2024, not a statement of the shortage status or compounding rules in October 2026. This account does not establish current FDA guidance, nor does it provide a detailed present-day regulatory comparison between a compounded medicine and Lilly’s approved branded drugs.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.What remains unconfirmed
Ars Technica’s October 22, 2024 report is the basis for the allegations, email wording, and dated regulatory context in this account: its report on Lilly’s lawsuit against Pivotal Peptides. It does not establish a later court outcome. The report also does not supply a current FDA shortage determination or current compounding guidance.
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