Recently, the distribution and sale of illegal counterfeit drugs for GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1) diabetes and obesity treatments have surged in Europe and the United States, prompting health authorities to strengthen consumer warnings and take action.
This means that counterfeit drugs imitating Denmark's Novo Nordisk's Wegovy and the United States' Eli Lilly's zepbound (marketed in Korea as mounjaro) are rampant on online marketplaces like Amazon and social media platforms like Instagram and TikTok.
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) and the Heads of Medicines Agencies (HMA) reported on the 3rd (local time) that the illegal drugs related to GLP-1 formulations being advertised and sold online and on social media have dramatically increased.
According to EMA and HMA investigations, there were hundreds of fake websites and social media accounts operating through servers outside the European Union (EU), with some misusing official logos and counterfeit certifications to deceive consumers.
The counterfeit obesity drug issue is also a headache in the United States. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) announced in April that it had confirmed the circulation of hundreds of counterfeit obesity treatments and had seized these counterfeit products.
According to online security company BrandShield, as of 2023, there were more than 250 websites selling illegal weight loss treatments, representing an increase of over seven times from the previous year (34 sites).
Experts point out that using counterfeit obesity drugs can lead not only to treatment failure but also to severe side effects.
EMA and HMA warned that "the ingredients listed on the products may not be present at all, and there is a possibility that harmful substances are included," adding, "You could face treatment failure, unexpected severe health issues, and exposure to dangerous interactions with other drugs."
The FDA also said, "Most counterfeit drugs do not have formal approval, and safety cannot be guaranteed, potentially causing issues like hypoglycemia or nausea." In 2023, there were reports of cases where individuals were hospitalized due to hypoglycemic symptoms after using counterfeit drugs imitating Novo Nordisk's GLP-1 diabetes medication Ozempic.
Recently, the FDA has also established a 'green list' system to limit the import of active pharmaceutical ingredients (API) in an effort to suppress the production of illegal GLP-1 formulations. This measure aims to block the influx of low-quality or illegally formulated GLP-1 products into the supply chain within the United States and to enhance consumer safety.
GLP-1 diabetes and obesity medications like Wegovy and zepbound are prescription drugs that must be obtained through a diagnosis by a physician and must be used through legitimate distribution channels.
The EU operates a common logo system to identify legal online pharmacies, and websites without the logo or not included in national registration lists are considered illegal.
Korea's Ministry of Food and Drug Safety (MFDS) and the Customs Service are strengthening enforcement to prevent the importation of illegal GLP-1 obesity treatments through overseas direct purchases.
Last month, the MFDS detected companies that illegally advertised general foods as being effective for dieting, health functional foods, or as "Wegovy that you can eat" on social media and online marketplaces, sending five company representatives to prosecution for violations of the law on labeling and advertising of food products.
The MFDS is operating a rapid monitoring response team in cooperation with the Korea Institute of Drug Safety & Risk Management. They plan to confirm and analyze the supply volumes and trends of diabetes and obesity medications by individual medical institutions in consultation with the Health Insurance Review & Assessment Service (HIRA) and conduct on-site inspections focusing on frequently prescribed medical institutions for exaggerations in advertising.