Watchdog issues urgent warning over ads for fake weight-loss drugs
The medicines watchdog has issued an urgent warning about a deluge of social media advertisements for counterfeit weight-loss drugs which 'pose a health risk' to the public.
The advertisements flogging fake versions of drugs such as semaglutide and tirzepatide – the active ingredients in weight-loss wonder jabs such as Ozempic and Mounjaro – falsely claim they have been endorsed by health authorities and manufactured in Ireland.
The Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) said it has identified a 'significant increase' in the number of ads for the drugs, which are exploiting the watchdog's logo. Some of the bogus ads for the drugs which show fake endorsements from the HPRA and others.
The HPRA said the 'unacceptable use' of its logo and name in this way is clearly designed to deceive and mislead consumers. The regulator has urged the public not to purchase from 'untrustworthy suppliers both engaged in illegal advertising and offering fake or unauthorised products that could pose a health risk'.
Other regulatory bodies internationally are being targeted in a similar way as the demand for the wonder drugs continues to rise.
As an independent regulator, the HPRA said it will never endorse or promote any specific health product or brand. Some of the bogus ads for the drugs which show fake endorsements from the HPRA and others.
HPRA director of compliance, Gráinne Power, said: 'We know that a lot of people are being duped into purchasing fake and illegal products via these sites. Working with Revenue's Customs Service, we have detained a significant number of products at point of entry to the country. A number of these purport to be genuine prescription medicines when in fact the products as presented do not exist as an authorised product in any market.
'One notable example are transdermal delivery microneedle patches which it is claimed contain semaglutide or tirzepatide and, featuring the Irish flag, are supposedly made in Ireland.
'In addition to references to the HPRA, there are also claims these products are endorsed nationally by charities, hospitals and individual healthcare professionals. All these claims are untrue. Microneedle patches containing semaglutide, tirzepatide or any GLP-1 type medicine are not available as approved medical treatments.'
This month alone, the HPRA said it had observed a major surge in misleading advertisements on social media platforms. The websites, which are hosted outside of Ireland by the e-commerce platform Shopify, are being promoted to consumers via fake Facebook profiles and ads. To date, 155 Shopify product listings, 124 Facebook profiles and 414 Facebook adverts have been identified making false claims with many also fraudulently stating that the product is endorsed by the HPRA. The medicines watchdog has issued an urgent warning about a deluge of social media advertisements for counterfeit weight-loss drugs. Pic: Getty Images
The body has advised Shopify and Meta of this fraudulent activity and of the public health risks associated with illegal prescription medicines and other unregulated health products sold online. It has requested Shopify and Meta remove product listings, fake profiles and adverts from their platforms.
Ms Power urged Irish consumers not to be taken in by the scam and only to source medical products from authorised places.
She added: 'The key message we are highlighting today is that the HPRA never endorses individual brands, nor do we allow our logo to be used in the promotion of health products.
'Our advice to consumers is that if online sources feature a HPRA logo or suggest a HPRA endorsement, then this is actually a clear sign you are engaging with a dubious site and seller.
'At best you are wasting your money with these online scams but at worst you could be seriously endangering your health. The HPRA said it has observed a major surge in misleading advertisements on social media platforms. Pic: Getty Images
'We are advising that when it comes to prescription medicines, ensure that the product is prescribed by a healthcare professional and sourced from a local pharmacy. All medicines, medical devices and cosmetics should be purchased through trustworthy, reliable and recognised sources.'
The HPRA continually monitors websites and social media channels for fake and illegal health product promotion. In 2024, 2,553 websites, e-commerce listings and/or social media pages were amended or shut down.
It regularly warns the public of the dangers of purchasing prescription only medicines online.
It is illegal to sell prescription medicines online and there is no guarantee of the quality, safety or effectiveness of the medicines purchased from unauthorised sources.
A spokesperson for Meta, the owners of Facebook, said: 'We don't allow fraudulent activity on our platforms and have removed the ads that were reported to us by the HPRA. Scammers are relentless and constantly evolving their tactics to evade detection, which is why we continue to invest in technology to improve our detection and enforcement. If someone believes they have spotted content or an account they believe to be fake, they can report it using our in-app tools.'
Last year, Extra.ie revealed that weight-loss drugs were being widely sold on the black market in Ireland. Drugs such as Ozempic, which has become the weight loss drug of choice for celebrities, are being peddled on social media and on clandestine websites as their popularity has soared. Leading scientists now believe that the benefits of the drug extend far beyond weight loss, with trials ongoing into treatment for illnesses such as Parkinson's and kidney disease.
Extra.ie also exposed the unethical and illegal sale of Ozempic which was being sold through beauty salons and health clinics for up to €800 per month.
Extra.ie ascertained that some beauty clinics as well as private sellers are charging up to €200 every week for people to take the prescription-only injection.
The care packages being offered to members of the public include a guaranteed injection every week, as well as what is being described as 'aftercare' with some unqualified people instructing patients on the best way to lose weight whilst on the drug. The practice has been roundly condemned by medics.
While the illegal sale and supply of the drug continues, scientists are continuing to discover unexpected side – effects of the injections.
The jabs could become 'statins for cancers' after they were found to slash the risk of contracting the disease, medics said earlier this month. Scientists said the drugs, also known as GLP-1s, may be up to 41% more effective at preventing obesity-related cancer than weight loss alone, and could also help prevent other types of cancer.
British researchers are planning a major trial to see if the drugs can provide a new 'weapon' in the fight against soaring cancer rates. They could potentially be prescribed long before any cancer symptoms in the same manner as statins are taken to reduce the risk of heart disease and stroke.
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