The World Health Organisation (WHO) and pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly have warned people to beware of counterfeit versions of popular weight loss and diabetes drugs.
The WHO said on Thursday it had received multiple reports of counterfeit semaglutide, the active ingredient in Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy and Ozempic, in all regions of the world since 2022.
Lilly said Thursday it was suing six more entities, including medical spas and wellness centers, for selling products that it claims contain tirzepatide, the active ingredient in Lilly’s popular diabetes drug Munjaro.
In an open letter, Lilly said it was “deeply concerned” about an increase in online sales and social media posts about counterfeit and synthetic versions of tirzepatide, the active ingredient in its medicines Maunjaro and Zepbound.
The Indianapolis-based company said it is the only legal supplier of the medication and that it does not supply tirzepatide to compounding pharmacies, health centers or online retailers.
Lilly said counterfeit versions of its medicines, which are frequently advertised or sold online, are never safe to use.
Novo Nordisk has issued similar warnings about its medicines in the past.
The WHO said patients can protect themselves by purchasing medicines only with a prescription from a licensed doctor, and should also avoid buying medicines from unfamiliar sources.
Lilly said the products, sold as Tirzepatide rather than Maunjaro or Zepbound, are not manufactured by the company and are not approved by the Food and Drug Administration.
Demand for GLP-1 drugs, including Wegoby and Lilly’s Zepbound and Maunjaro, is outstripping supply. Some doses of Maunjaro and Zepbound are expected to be available in limited quantities until the second quarter, the FDA said.
