Organised crime gangs are producing their own branded weight loss drugs, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has warned. These fake jabs are designed to look like legitimate medicines but are unlicensed and potentially deadly.
The MHRA recently conducted its largest seizure of trafficked weight-loss drugs, raiding an illegal factory in Northampton last month. More than 2,000 unlicensed retatrutide and tirzepatide pens, ready to be filled with chemical ingredients, were seized. The street value of the finished products is estimated at over £250,000.
Andy Morling, head of the MHRA's criminal enforcement unit, said criminals are investing in their own packaging and branding to pass off fake products as genuine. He warned that people buying prescription medicines online from unregistered sources face serious health risks, as these products may be contaminated with toxic substances.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting urged the public not to buy weight loss medications from unregulated sources, advising them to consult their GP or seek NHS advice. He stressed that safe, licensed obesity drugs should only be used under medical supervision.
