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Sunday World
a day 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.'
Extra.ie
2 days ago
- Health
- Extra.ie
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, 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. 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. 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.
Irish Times
2 days ago
- Business
- Irish Times
Maker of Ozempic and Wegovy broke advertising rules, regulator finds
The maker of weight loss drugs Ozempic and Wegovy broke rules around the advertising and marketing of its medication to healthcare workers over three years, the medicines watchdog has found. The Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA), the medicines regulator, said pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk had complied with regulations during an inspection in May 2023, but there were also 'a significant number of non-compliances'. Grouping these together into one 'overall major deficiency', the HPRA said this 'should be addressed as a matter of urgency'. In a report, the authority said it is 'possible' other non-compliances exist at the site that were not identified during the inspection. READ MORE The report is part of the HPRA's routine surveillance activities looking at the years 2021 to 2023 and was obtained under the Freedom of Information Act by James Larkin, a postdoctoral researcher in the Royal College of Surgeons in Ireland (RCSI) who examines conflicts of interest. The HPRA criticised the level of control and governance for educational activities and promotional material, describing them as 'deficient'. [ Ozempic changed the lives of obesity patients. And then we had to stop prescribing it Opens in new window ] According to the inspection, Novo Nordisk ran a pilot training course for 13 healthcare professionals – eight GPs and five practice nurses – in April 2022, where the design and contents were 'inappropriate', with some aspects being 'promotional in nature'. The report highlighted issues with how six trainee healthcare professionals shadowed a trainer for three hours in private sessions with patients. The HPRA said there was 'no evidence' Novo Nordisk had considered whether this was appropriate given that the trainer had been paid by the company to run the sessions and might prescribe its products in front of the trainees. Furthermore, a presentation comparing Novo Nordisk products with other medications at a medical education meeting on November 5th, 2021, was 'unbalanced', they said. A teaching guide aimed at healthcare workers, approved in May 2021, did not comply with regulations as it did not feature statements on adverse reactions, precautions and contraindications, the HPRA said. The company recently launched a new advertising campaign in Ireland proclaiming: 'It's about my health, not just my weight'. The campaign, which can be seen on buses, bus stops, billboards and in broadcast media, is being reviewed by the HPRA and Advertising Standards Authority following the receipt of complaints. The company has described it as a 'disease awareness campaign'. It does not mention any drugs, but does contain the company logo. [ As a cardiologist, here is what I tell my patients about Ozempic Opens in new window ] Last July, Novo Nordisk was reprimanded by UK regulators for breaking rules around advertising its products. A spokeswoman said the company 'addressed the findings to ensure compliance with industry regulation and this was completed to the HPRA's satisfaction immediately following the inspection'. 'Our focus remains on meeting the needs of patients, healthcare professionals and partners, and we are committed to improving the lives of people living with chronic disease in Ireland.'
Irish Daily Mirror
3 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.
Irish Times
3 days ago
- Business
- Irish Times
Illegal or fake weight-loss drugs seized by medicines watchdog this month almost five times 2024 total
The number of illegal or fake weight loss drugs seized by the medicines watchdog this month is almost five times that seized in all of last year, new figures show. On Thursday, the Health Products Regulatory Authority (HPRA) issued an 'urgent warning' about online advertisements making 'spurious claims' about illegal or falsified medicines, many of which purport to be endorsed by the regulator. The HPRA said it seized 7,815 fake or illegal weight-loss drugs between May 1st and 28th. This compares to 1,582 in all of 2024. Sites and social media posts are using the HPRA logo to claim the featured products are 'endorsed' by it, the body said. However, the HPRA is an independent regulator, so it does not endorse any medication. READ MORE 'The unacceptable use of the HPRA logo and name in this way is clearly designed to deceive and mislead consumers,' the regulator said. [ Rise in seizure of illegal muscle-boosting and weight-loss drugs Opens in new window ] It said that in May alone, there has been a surge in misleading website activity. The websites, which are hosted outside of Ireland by the ecommerce platform Shopify, are being directly promoted to consumers via fake Facebook profiles and ads, the HPRA said. So far in May, 155 product listings on Shopify, 124 profiles on Facebook and 414 advertisements on Facebook have been identified making false claims, according to the HPRA. The HPRA said it has advised Shopify and Meta, which owns Facebook, of the activity and of the public health risks associated with illegal prescription medicines and other unregulated health products sold online. It said it has requested that they 'intercede to proactively identify and remove product listings, fake profiles and adverts from their platforms'. Grainne Power, director of compliance at the HPRA, said these products are made outside Ireland, and people are 'being duped' into purchasing them. Working with Revenue, she said, the organisation has seized a 'significant number of products at point of entry to the country'. Some 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. Ms Power said a 'notable' seizure was a delivery of microneedle patches that claimed to have the active ingredients semaglutide and tirzepatide, which are used to treat obesity. The packaging featured an Irish flag and purported to be made in the State. '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,' said Ms Power. Microneedle patches containing semaglutide, tirzepatide or any GLP-1 type medicine are 'not available as approved medical treatments', she said. The HPRA wants consumers to be aware that the HPRA 'never endorses individual brands' or allows its logo to be used in promoting health products, she said. If online sources feature the HPRA logo or suggest endorsement by the regulator, this is 'actually a clear sign' of a 'dubious' seller, she said.
