Clamping Down on Counterfeit Weight Loss Medicine Marketplaces

Time to Tackle Unauthorized Weight Loss Drug Sales

In the realm of healthcare, a growing issue has emerged: the proliferation of counterfeit GLP-1 drugs in the United States. These "compounded versions" of GLP-1 agonists, such as Wegovy and Zepbound, are not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA).

The sale of these counterfeit drugs is not limited to traditional channels. A public health threat has emerged due to the sale of counterfeit versions of these drugs by third-party telehealth firms and online pharmacies. As of July 31, the FDA had over 1,000 reports of adverse events linked to compounded GLP-1s.

The first compounded versions of GLP-1s entered the market during a brief shortage of these drugs in 2022. Compounded drugs, which are custom-made by pharmacists using the ingredients for a given medicine, are usually reserved for special circumstances. However, their unapproved use in the case of GLP-1 drugs poses significant health risks.

The issue of compounded GLP-1s is part of a larger problem: the continuous flow of counterfeit Chinese drugs into the United States. In recent years, counterfeit fentanyl from China has contributed to the ongoing opioid epidemic in the U.S.

While pharmaceutical companies are investing heavily in direct-to-consumer portals to deliver drugs to patients, these platforms can help save patients money by cutting middlemen like pharmacy benefit managers (PBMs) out of the supply chain. However, it's important to note that cost-sharing is typically based on artificially high list prices, and patients don't directly share in the savings their PBM and insurer ostensibly negotiate on their behalf.

The booming trade in illicit GLP-1s deserves a swift crackdown. A recent poll by Fabrizio Ward found that 92% of Trump voters want the FDA to enact better protections against unsafe prescription drugs. Sixty-seven percent of Trump voters stand against expanded drug compounding "beyond narrow exceptions."

President Trump's commitment to getting tough on China could be fulfilled by addressing the issue of compounded GLP-1s. The average American spent more than the cost of Zepbound on eating out in 2023, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. With the affordability of these life-changing drugs within reach, it's crucial that Americans have access to genuine, FDA-approved medications.

Until a crackdown on illicit GLP-1s happens, too many Americans will continue to risk their health on potentially dangerous weight-loss medications. The search results do not provide specific names of companies that are currently illegally manufacturing and selling GLP-1 drugs imported from China. However, Swissmedic warns against fake, misleading, or unauthorized GLP-1-related weight loss products, which may come with false labeling and pose health risks, but no particular firms are named.

Lilly's direct-to-consumer platform currently offers its GLP-1, Zepbound, for as little as $349 a month. As the fight against counterfeit GLP-1s continues, patients can take steps to ensure they are receiving genuine medications by purchasing directly from FDA-approved pharmacies and being vigilant about the authenticity of their prescriptions.