Latest news with #GrainnePower
Sunday World
4 days ago
- Health
- Sunday World
Warning issued about ads for fake weight-loss drug Ozempic that pose serious ‘health risk'
'We know that a lot of people are being duped into purchasing fake and illegal products via these sites' Ireland's medicines watchdog has issued an urgent warning about ads for fake weight-loss drugs that pose 'a health risk' to the public. The Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) said it has identified a 'surge' in online advertisements making 'spurious claims and featuring false endorsements'. The advertisements often offer fake versions of drugs such as semaglutide and tirzepatide – the active ingredients in weight-loss jabs such as Ozempic and Mounjaro. The HPRA said it had identified a significant increase in recent weeks of online content making false claims while promoting medicines, medical devices and cosmetics. However, the Authority is specifically highlighting a new development 'where dubious sites and social media posts are using the HPRA logo to falsely claim featured products are endorsed' by the body. 'Other regulatory bodies internationally are being targeted in a similar way,' a HPRA statement reads. 'The unacceptable use of the HPRA logo and name in this way is clearly designed to deceive and mislead consumers.' A genuine package of the Novo Nordisk weight loss drug Ozempic. News in 90 Seconds - May 31st As a result, the authority is urging members of the public not to buy such products online 'as they are likely to be from untrustworthy suppliers both engaged in illegal advertising and offering fake or unauthorised products that could pose a health risk'. 'As the independent regulator, the HPRA will never endorse or promote any specific health product or brand,' the statement adds. According to the HPRA, they have observed a 'surge' in misleading website activity in May alone. Hundreds of Facebook profiles and 414 Facebook advertisements have been identified making false claims 'with many also fraudulently stating that the product or brand is endorsed by the HPRA'. The HPRA said it had alerted various platforms 'of this fraudulent activity and of the public health risks associated with illegal prescription medicines and other unregulated health products sold online'. Grainne Power, Director of Compliance, HPRA, said that despite what is being claimed in recent posts, 'these illegal products are manufactured and sourced outside of Ireland'. 'We know that a lot of people are being duped into purchasing fake and illegal products via these sites,' Ms Power said. '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.' Ms Power stressed that the key message 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,' she added. 'At best you are wasting your money with these online scams but at worst you could be seriously endangering your health. 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.' In July of last year, a warning was issued to the public as fake Ozempic syringe seizures trebled in Ireland. The Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) revealed that 656 units of fake Ozempic were seized in Ireland within the first five months of 2024. Only 254 units were seized in Ireland for all of the previous twelve months. The Irish public has been warned not to purchase Ozempic from unknown sources, especially online. Trinity Professor Luke O'Neill said fake Ozempic could be 'lethal' as people 'don't know' what they are purchasing. 'These are people making, not snake oil, but kind of a tube that hasn't got Ozempic in it, it's got something else and they are calling it Ozempic,' he told Newstalk. 'You don't know what you're getting.'
Irish Daily Mirror
6 days ago
- Business
- Irish Daily Mirror
Health regulator warns of 'increase' in false online content using official logo
An Irish health products regulator has warned of a 'significant increase' in online content making false claims whilst promoting medicines, medical devices and cosmetics. The Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) has highlighted a trend where 'dubious sites and social media posts' are using the HPRA logo to falsely claim featured products are endorsed by the HPRA. Alongside the body, other regulators internationally are being targeted in a similar way. The HPRA slammed the 'unacceptable use' of its logo and name in a way 'clearly designed to deceive and mislead consumers'. The HPRA is now urging members of the public not to buy such products online as they are likely to be from untrustworthy suppliers engaged in both illegal advertising and offering fake or unauthorised products that could pose a health risk. It stressed that as the independent regulator, the HPRA will never endorse or promote any specific health product or brand. In May alone, the HPRA observed a surge in misleading website activity. The websites, which are hosted outside of Ireland by the e-commerce platform Shopify, are being directly promoted to consumers via fake Facebook profiles and ads. To date, some 155 Shopify product listings, 124 Facebook profiles and 414 Facebook advertisements have been identified making false claims with many also fraudulently stating that the product or brand is endorsed by the HPRA. The HPRA 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 to intercede to proactively identify and remove product listings, fake profiles and adverts from their platforms. According to Grainne Power, Director of Compliance, HPRA, in recent weeks there has been an upsurge in fake and misleading online posts. In all cases, despite what is being claimed, these illegal products are manufactured and sourced outside of Ireland. '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. '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. '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,' she concluded. 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 continually 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.
RTÉ News
6 days ago
- Health
- RTÉ News
Spike in unauthorised weight loss drugs seized by Revenue, says HPRA
There has been a large increase in the number of unauthorised weight loss products seized by Revenue, according to the Health Products Regulatory Authority. In this month alone, 8,000 such products were seized, four times the quantity seized in all of last year, which was 2,000. HPRA has noticed a significant rise in online ads making false claims about medicines, devices, and cosmetics. Director of Compliance HPRA Grainne Power said the surge in the number of products is believed to be linked to "quite elaborate ads that look completely believable, but making numerous false claims about the medicines they're promoting". In particular, she said, "GLP-1 products that are presenting themselves as what are called 'micro-needle patches,' that they say contain the product." "These ads are using the HPRA's logo to falsely endorse these products," she said. GLP-1 products are primarily used as prescription medicines to treat diabetes and weight loss. The products are often marketed online as ozempic-type weight loss medicines. The active ingredient - semaglutide - is sold under the brand name Ozempic as an anti-diabetic medication used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. Ozempic is approved for use in Ireland as a diabetes drug, but has not been listed for reimbursement as a treatment for obesity under the Drug Payments Scheme. Ozempic costs around €150 a month if you are taking it for weight-loss purposes and a rival product called Wegovy reportedly costs €220 a month. Ms Power said there are a couple of "red flags" that people should be aware of: "The first one is that the HPRA will never endorse a specific medicine in that way; our logo would never be used on any medicine. "And the second red flag is that it is not legal in Ireland to promote a prescription medicine to the general public at all." She said these are "two clear signals" to people to avoid being tempted by products being promoted in these ads. Ms Power said the consistent message remains that the only safe place to buy prescription medicines is from a pharmacy with a doctor's or prescriber's prescription. The 'medicines' do not "represent authorised products at all", she added. "They are products that don't exist, and particularly these GLP1 patches, they don't exist as an authorised medicine anywhere in the world, to the best of my knowledge." She said the HPRA has "no idea" what is in the products and "no confidence" about their safety. False medicine ads are being promoted through 'Facebook' and also through fake Facebook profiles that can purport to "represent well-respected" healthcare professionals or institutions in Ireland, said Ms Power. "When the ads pops up and you show an interest, you're then targeted, and if you click into it, what you are redirected to is an e-commerce platform outside the jurisdiction, and it is typically 'Shopify.'" When the HPRA finds the ads, it contacts Facebook and Shopify and requests them to remove the ads and their links. Companies have engaged with the HPRA and taken some of the material down, "but not all," and the authority continues to escalate its contact with "both of those organisations and continue to co-operate with them", said Ms Power. She added that HPRA has engaged at European level with its "peer organisations" to raise the matter more generally, as it is not just an Irish issue, it affects patients "all over Europe".
Dublin Live
6 days ago
- Health
- Dublin Live
Urgent warning over fake Facebook profiles and ads promoting illegal medicines
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info An urgent warning has been issued following a significant surge in online content making false claims while promoting medicines, medical devices and cosmetics in recent weeks. It is particularly drawing attention to a new trend where questionable websites and social media posts are misusing the The Health Products Regulatory Authority's logo to falsely assert that featured products have the HPRA's endorsement. Other regulatory bodies worldwide are being targeted in a similar manner. The HPRA said the inappropriate use of its name and logo is "clearly intended to deceive and mislead consumers". The authority is urging the public not to buy such products online as they are likely to be from unreliable suppliers engaged in illegal advertising and selling counterfeit or unauthorised products that could pose a health risk. In May alone, the HPRA has noticed a spike in deceptive website activity. These websites, hosted outside of Ireland on the e-commerce platform Shopify, are being directly marketed to consumers via fake Facebook profiles and ads. So far, around 155 Shopify product listings, 124 Facebook profiles and 414 Facebook advertisements have been identified making false claims, with many also fraudulently stating that the product or brand is endorsed by the HPRA. The HPRA has alerted Shopify and Meta to the fraudulent activities and public health dangers posed by illegal prescription medicines and other unregulated health products sold online. They've called on both companies to step in and actively seek out and delete product listings, bogus profiles, and adverts from their platforms. Grainne Power, the HPRA's Director of Compliance, 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. "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. 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." Join our Dublin Live breaking news service on WhatsApp. Click this link to receive your daily dose of Dublin Live content. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. If you're curious, you can read our Privacy Notice. For all the latest news from Dublin and surrounding areas visit our homepage.
Irish Independent
6 days ago
- Business
- Irish Independent
Urgent warning to public about surge in online ads and websites promoting illegal medicines and using watchdog logo
The warning came today from the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) saying the sinister new development involves the illegal use of its logo as an endorsement. A spokeswoman said it has identified a significant increase in recent weeks of online content making false claims promoting medicines, medical devices and cosmetics. It is specifically highlighting a new development where dubious sites and social media posts are using the HPRA logo to falsely claim featured products are endorsed by the HPRA. 'Other regulatory bodies internationally are being targeted in a similar way. The unacceptable use of the HPRA logo and name in this way is clearly designed to deceive and mislead consumers,' a spokeswoman said. It is urging members of the public not to buy such products online as they are likely to be from untrustworthy suppliers both engaged in illegal advertising and offering fake or unauthorised products that could pose a health risk. As the independent regulator, the HPRA will never endorse or promote any specific health product or brand. It said in this month alone, the HPRA has observed a surge in misleading website activity. The websites, which are hosted outside of Ireland by the e-commerce platform Shopify, are being directly promoted to consumers via fake Facebook profiles and ads. 'To date, some 155 Shopify product listings, 124 Facebook profiles and 414 Facebook advertisements have been identified making false claims with many also fraudulently stating that the product or brand is endorsed by the HPRA,' it said. 'The HPRA 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 to intercede to proactively identify and remove product listings, fake profiles and adverts from their platforms.' ADVERTISEMENT Learn more Grainne Power, Director of Compliance at the HPRA, said that in recent weeks there has been an upsurge in fake and misleading online posts. In all cases, despite what is being claimed, these illegal products are manufactured and sourced outside of Ireland. '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,' she said. '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 '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. 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,' she concluded. The HPRA said it 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 shutdown. It continually 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. If a member of the public is uncertain about a claim being made in relation to a brand or product, they can contact the HPRA for clarification. The HPRA also welcomes reports of suspicious activities linked both to the supply of medicines and other health products, and their promotion where the HPRA logo or name is being used. Anyone can report in confidence to the HPRA at reportacase@ or at 01 6343871.
