Senators Expand Probe of Pfizer and Eli Lilly’s Telehealth Partnerships

In an ongoing effort to scrutinize the direct-to-consumer (DTC) telehealth platforms of major pharmaceutical companies Pfizer and Eli Lilly, a group of U.S. senators has broadened its investigation to include telehealth provider partners. The focus lies on the potential influence these partnerships may have on prescribing practices and how such relationships could lead to increased spending on federal healthcare programs.

The Emergence of DTC Telehealth Platforms

Pfizer’s PfizerForAll and Eli Lilly’s LillyDirect both launched in 2024, providing consumers with access to virtual and in-person medical consultations, prescriptions, and health products that can be delivered directly to their homes. These platforms have drawn scrutiny because they are often equipped to provide services that ostensibly lead patients towards specific medications associated with the pharmaceutical firms.

Senators’ Initial Inquiries

Back in October, Democratic Senators Dick Durbin (Illinois), Peter Welch (Vermont), Elizabeth Warren (Massachusetts), and Independent Senator Bernie Sanders (Vermont) sent nearly identical letters to Pfizer and Eli Lilly containing thirteen specific questions about their partnerships with telehealth providers. The purpose of the inquiries was to examine how these drugmakers interact with the doctors and telehealth companies they contract with.

The senators expressed concerns that, although the pharmaceutical companies assured them that doctors could freely prescribe any appropriate medication, the inherent structure of the company-branded platforms could steer patients toward particular treatments. As a result, they noted a significant risk of inappropriate prescribing, which could lead to unnecessary increases in federal healthcare expenditure.

Subsequent Outreach to Telehealth Companies

Following their initial inquiries, the group of lawmakers has now reached out to five telehealth companies that have existing contracts with either Lilly or Pfizer: 9amHealth, Thirty Madison, Form Health, Populus Health Technologies, and UpScriptHealth. The new letters largely reflect the same questions posed to the pharmaceutical companies, again focusing on the potential for fraud or misconduct stemming from these partnerships.

Concerns Over Prescribing Practices

The senators warned that “a patient coming straight from Pfizer’s website to a telehealth appointment with a prescriber chosen by Pfizer is overwhelmingly more likely to ask for Pfizer’s medication.” They further indicated that such a prescriber may have economic incentives to prescribe the medication, regardless of its medical necessity or clinical appropriateness. The contracts between the pharmaceutical companies and telehealth providers could unduly influence prescriber actions, they argued.

Questions Addressed to Telehealth Companies

The letters sent to the telehealth firms include similar questions pertaining to the nature of the collaborations with Pfizer and Lilly. Highlights of these inquiries include:

• Whether the pharmaceutical companies direct or encourage the telehealth providers to prefer their medications.
• If the providers face restrictions or offer rewards based on the specific drugs prescribed.
• Details regarding the financial terms of their contracts with the pharmaceutical companies.

These telehealth companies have been given until April 15 to respond to the queries.

Responses from Pfizer and Lilly

In their prior responses to the senators, Pfizer and Eli Lilly emphasized that their telehealth partners operate independently and claimed they do not provide incentives for prescribers to favor their own medications. Furthermore, Lilly took the opportunity to highlight concerns about compounded drugs, specifically those that mimic medications like their GLP-1 tirzepatide, which they labeled as “unsafe and untested.”

Compounded Drug Controversies

The tension between Lilly and Novo Nordisk over the marketed compounded versions of obesity medications has escalated significantly, particularly following a Super Bowl ad from telehealth company Hims & Hers that referenced their own versions of these drugs. However, a recent court ruling may have eased some of Lilly’s concerns regarding the compounding of tirzepatide, as it ruled that such products must cease production.

Looking Ahead

The expansion of this investigation echoes the broader government initiative to regulate pharmaceutical corporations’ DTC marketing strategies. As telehealth solutions become increasingly integrated into patient care, the implications of how these partnerships are structured will play a critical role in shaping public policy and healthcare spending practices.

As this investigation continues, it will be essential to monitor how these companies respond to the senators’ inquiries and what, if any, changes will be implemented in telehealth practices in the coming months.