A weight-loss doctor has issued an urgent warning as counterfeit ‘Godzilla’ jabs – unlicensed versions of the experimental drug retatrutide – are being sold online, with experts warning the festive season is creating a ‘perfect storm’ for risky purchases.
Retatrutide, a triple-hormone medication nicknamed for its powerful effects, remains in clinical trials and has not been approved anywhere in the world. Yet fake versions are circulating on social media platforms, Telegram groups and unregulated online shops, often with no medical assessment or quality control.
Recent UK seizures revealed more than £250,000 worth of counterfeit pens labelled as tirzepatide and retatrutide were found in a covert factory in Northampton. Authorities have described social media as a ‘wild west’ for buyers desperate for rapid weight loss before Christmas.
Prof Franklin Joseph, founder of Dr Frank’s Weight Loss Clinic, said: ‘This is the time of year when people panic. They want to turn up to Christmas Day or New Year’s Eve looking slimmer, and viral posts convince them there’s a quick fix. But these so-called “Godzilla jabs” are fake, untested and potentially harmful.’
He warned the real danger lies in what the pens contain: ‘Some have unknown chemicals, bacteria or the wrong hormone entirely. It’s simply not worth the risk for a temporary festive panic.’
Instead of chasing miracle fixes, Prof Joseph advised evidence-based strategies and medically supervised treatments, stressing: ‘There is no Christmas miracle jab. Don’t gamble your wellbeing for a party photo.’
