The UK's Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has issued a fresh warning against buying weight-loss jabs from social media sellers or other illegitimate channels. The black market for medications such as Wegovy and Mounjaro is booming due to high demand, limited NHS access, prescription requirements, and high costs.
Jenn Matthissen of the MHRA's safety and surveillance team stressed the importance of buying only from registered UK pharmacies or legitimate retailers. “People often look for ways to support their health at this time of year but buying medicines from illegal online sellers can put your health at real risk,” she said.
The MHRA previously seized over £250,000 worth of counterfeit weight-loss jab products from a Northampton factory, including injection pens for retatrutide, an experimental drug not licensed in the UK. A Guardian investigation found that the linked company, Alluvi Healthcare Ltd, continued to advertise replicas on Telegram channels.
Banks have reported scams related to weight-loss medications, with victims losing £120 on average. The MHRA warns that products from illegal sellers may be counterfeit, contaminated, contain wrong doses, or unlisted ingredients posing health risks. Improper storage, such as freezing, can also impair safety and effectiveness.
Health minister Dr Zubir Ahmed said: “As a practising doctor and patient safety minister, I want to be absolutely clear: please do not buy weight loss medications from unregulated sources. These products are made with no regard for safety or quality and pose a major risk to unwitting customers.”
