U.S. Officials Call for Action to Protect Consumers from Dangerous Imitations A bipartisan coalition of 38 state and territory attorneys general is urging the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to take immediate action against counterfeit weight loss medications, particularly fake versions of blockbuster GLP-1 drugs developed by Novo Nordisk (NVO) and Eli Lilly (NYSE:LLY). The request, directed to acting FDA Commissioner Sara Brenner on Thursday, highlights growing concerns over public health risks tied to illicit obesity drug distribution.
FDA Urged to Combat Counterfeit GLP-1 Medications As Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly grapple with supply shortages of their popular GLP-1 medications, bad actors have flooded the market with counterfeit versions, putting unsuspecting consumers at serious risk. The attorneys general are calling on the FDA to collaborate with federal agencies like the Department of Homeland Security to intercept these illegal drugs before they reach the market.
Concerns Over Online Retailers and Compounding Pharmacies The letter also draws attention to online retailers that sell active ingredients of weight loss drugs without requiring prescriptions. Additionally, it warns against compounding pharmacies that are “illegally participating” in the obesity drug market, producing unregulated versions of the sought-after medications.
The attorneys general noted that many of these active ingredients originate from unregulated suppliers in China and India, raising concerns about contamination and the inclusion of foreign substances. “Much like with counterfeit versions, these active ingredients come from unregulated, undisclosed sources in countries like China and India and pose risks of contamination and inclusion of foreign substances,” the letter stated.
Public Health Risks and Regulatory Oversight Officials warn that with consumers turning to compounding pharmacies amid high demand, unsanitary conditions at these facilities could lead to serious health hazards. The group emphasized the FDA’s critical role in ensuring the safety of GLP-1 supplies, urging the agency to ramp up investigations, inspections, and enforcement actions to protect consumers from fraudulent and potentially harmful products.
“The FDA must work with federal partners like the Department of Homeland Security to intercept counterfeit GLP-1 drugs before they reach unsuspecting consumers,” the attorneys general stressed, advocating for stricter oversight and intervention in the obesity drug market.
