Recent expansions strengthen national footprint
The news follows Strives’ recent expansion and transfer of its Tampa location, along with the purchase of 275,000-square-foot current good manufacturing practice (cGMP) production site in Alachua, FL. Among various services, the newly acquired building—valued by various pharma manufacturers at upwards of $500 million—will offer production and fulfillment of biologics and active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs).2
The name may also sound familiar, as this past October, a federal judge dismissed a lawsuit against Strive that was filed by Eli Lilly, which was originally for the false and deceptive online advertising of tirzepatide—the active ingredient in Mounjaro and Zepbound.3,4,5
Fast facts
- Project: Strive Pharmacy has broken ground on a new 350,000-square-foot facility in Mesa, AZ, which will serve as its new headquarters and advanced compounding plant.
- Capacity: As a result, the new hub is expected to expand the compounding pharmacy's national fulfillment and advanced compounding capabilities, increasing manufacturing capacity in the process.
Regulatory spotlight: Compounding and the GLP-1 supply shift
Although tirzepatide was removed from the FDA’s drug shortage list last fall, while then ending the allowance period of its mass production in March 2025,6 Strive, who is 503A compounding pharmacy, claimed that it sells a personalized combination of tirzepatide, vitamin B12, and glycine to providers.3,4
Earlier this year, Pharma Commerce spoke with Donald Prentiss, founder and CEO of Qualthera, a 503A pharmacy partners with 503B facilities. He explained7 the role that compounding pharmacies play in bridging the gap for patients in need of their medication, sharing that, “Back in October is when the FDA indicated that it was now off of shortage. There was some litigation out there from the Outsourcing Facilities Association and others that argue that it was not actually off of shortage in the market, because a lot of pharmacies were getting feedback that patients were still having trouble getting that, since they couldn't get it from their wholesalers to give it to their patients. You saw some back and forth there.
“ … If I'm only allowed to make something when it's on shortage, I have to be fairly certain that it's going to be on shortage a good while, so I can recoup my cost, while also making some money, because they are a business, they have to make good business decisions. That's a little bit of the rub between compounding pharmacies and the FDA and drug manufacturers—compounding pharmacies can step in to fill these gaps, only when on shortage, but guess what? This is off shortage now. You stop making it, and now you're stuck, holding back with your cost. … “There were still questions of, if we jump in and make these medications, how long and what kind of tail can we expect when they come off as shortage to again, recoup our costs? There were was a lot of back-and-forth discussion on that, in order to help protect everyone's interests.”
References
1. Strive Pharmacy Breaks Ground on New 350,000 Sq. Ft. Arizona Headquarters and Compounding Facility, Strengthening Its National Leadership in Patient-Focused Innovation. Access Newswire. December 2, 2025. Accessed December 2, 2025. https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/healthcare-and-pharmaceutical/strive-pharmacy-breaks-ground-on-new-350-000-sq.-ft.-arizona-headquar-1113426
2. Strive Pharmacy Expands Footprint with Acquisition of Alachua Facility and New Tampa Location, Cementing Leadership in Patient-Focused Compounding Innovation. Access Newswire. November 4, 2025. Accessed December 2, 2025. https://www.accessnewswire.com/newsroom/en/healthcare-and-pharmaceutical/strive-pharmacy-expands-footprint-with-acquisition-of-alachua-facilit-1096806
3. Eli Lilly and Company v. Strive Pharmacy LLC lawsuit (posted by Partnership for Safe Medicines). US District Court for the District of Delaware. April 1, 2025. Accessed December 2, 2025. https://www.safemedicines.org/wp-content/uploads/2019/09/Lilly-Strive-Pharmacy-LLC.pdf
4. Eli Lilly and Company v Strive Pharmacy LLC Memorandum Ipinion. Justia US Law. October 8, 2025. Accessed December 2, 2025. https://law.justia.com/cases/federal/district-courts/delaware/dedce/1:2025cv00401/88686/21/
5. Wanneh G. DE Judge Dismisses Lilly Suit Against AZ Pharmacy Compounder. InsideHealthPolicy. October 9, 2025. Accessed December 2, 2025. https://insidehealthpolicy.com/inside-drug-pricing-daily-news/de-judge-dismisses-lilly-suit-against-az-pharmacy-compounder
6. FDA Clarifies Policies for Compounders as National GLP-1 Supply Begins to Stabilize. US Food & Drug Administration. March 10, 2025. Accessed December 2, 2025. https://www.fda.gov/drugs/drug-safety-and-availability/fda-clarifies-policies-compounders-national-glp-1-supply-begins-stabilize
7. Saraceno N. Clearing Up the Competition Myth. Pharmaceutical Commerce. January 17, 2025. Accessed December 2, 2025. https://www.pharmaceuticalcommerce.com/view/clearing-up-competition-myth