Watch out for fake versions of popular weight-loss drugs, WHO says

The World Health Organization and drug maker Eli Lilly and Co. are warning people to be wary of fake versions of popular weight-loss and diabetes medicines.

The WHO said Thursday that it has fielded several reports of fake semaglutide — the active ingredient in Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy and Ozempic — in all geographic regions of the world since 2022.

Eli Lilly said in an open letter that it was “deeply concerned” about growing online sales and social media posts involving phony or compounded versions of tirzepatide, the active ingredient behind its drugs Mounjaro and Zepbound.

The Indianapolis-based company said it was the only lawful supplier of those drugs, and it does not provide tirzepatide to compounding pharmacies, wellness centres or online retailers.

Lilly said fake versions of its drugs frequently advertised or sold online are never safe to use.

Novo Nordisk has issued similar warnings in the past about its medications.

The WHO said patients can protect themselves by using prescriptions from licensed physicians to buy the medications. The agency said patients also should avoid buying the drugs from unfamiliar sources.

Lilly said any product marketed as tirzepatide that isn’t Mounjaro or Zepbound was not made by the drug maker and is not approved by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Ozempic, Mounjaro and Wegovy are approved by Health Canada. 

Doctors and health-care law experts say the medications are part of the growing and dangerous problem of counterfeit drugs. It’s an issue they say is likely to get worse — especially when it comes to this class of highly sought-after pharmaceuticals.

The Associated Press Health and Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute’s Science and Educational Media Group. The AP is solely responsible for all content.