(Updated January 2024) MHRA issues warning regarding unsafe counterfeit weight loss pens

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) is cautioning the public against the purchase of pre-filled pens falsely claiming to contain Ozempic (semaglutide) or Saxenda (liraglutide).

These potentially harmful counterfeit pens have surfaced in the UK, and the MHRA emphasises the importance of obtaining these medicines solely through a valid medical prescription.

This comes after BBC Three’s documentary “The Skinny Jab Uncovered”, in which BBC News shared details of an undercover investigation into beauty practitioners illegally selling semaglutide or knock-off alternatives, nicknamed ‘skinny injections’ to customers, despite not being medical professionals. The British Association of Beauty Therapy and Cosmetology (BABTAC) has also issued a warning of the dangers of illegally obtaining the drug.

Semaglutide and liraglutide are prescription-only medicines. Saxenda (liraglutide) is authorised in the UK for weight loss in conjunction with diet and exercise, while Ozempic (semaglutide) is authorised for the treatment of adults with type 2 diabetes, also in combination with diet and exercise. Although not authorised for weight loss, Ozempic is sometimes used off-label for this purpose.

Since January 2023, the MHRA has seized 369 potentially fake Ozempic pens and received reports of counterfeit Saxenda pens in the possession of the public in the UK, obtained through non-legitimate channels. Notably, none of these pens were seized before January 2023.

Purchasing prescription-only medicines online without a valid prescription poses a direct threat to health. The MHRA has received reports of a small number of individuals being hospitalised after using potentially fake pens. Serious side effects, including hypoglycemic shock and coma, suggest that these pens may contain insulin rather than the intended semaglutide.

"With any medicines bought outside of the legal supply chain, the contents may not match the ingredients on the label," the MHRA stated. "Serious side effects reported of those hospitalised, including hypoglycaemic shock and coma, indicate that the pens may contain insulin rather than semaglutide.

Anyone with health concerns is urged to consult their GP or pharmacist, obtain a proper diagnosis, and if prescribed, acquire medicines from a legitimate source. All pharmacies in Great Britain, including online ones, must be registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) and adhere to their standards for registered pharmacies.

Dr Alison Cave, MHRA chief safety officer, warned against purchasing weight loss pens from illegal suppliers, emphasising that such products may not meet quality and safety standards, posing significant health risks.

“We are advising all members of the public not to use any pre-filled weight loss pens they may have bought online and instead to report it to us so that we can investigate and take any necessary action," says Dr Cave.

“If you suspect that you’ve had a side effect to semaglutide, liraglutide or any other medicine, or suspect it’s not a genuine product, you can report it to our Yellow Card scheme.”

Health minister Will Quince also expressed full support for MHRA's efforts to crack down on illegal online suppliers, emphasising that patients should only use prescribed medicines from legitimate sources.

“We at Obesity UK are very concerned to hear reports that people living with obesity are falling victim to criminals who are obtaining and selling fake weight loss medication," says Professor Paul Gately, chief executive of Obesity UK.

“The dangers to health are clear. Our advice, like that of the MHRA, is that only medication prescribed by a qualified medical/healthcare professional should be taken."

For more information and to report concerns, visit the MHRA's Yellow Card scheme. The public is also advised to exercise caution when buying medicines online and can find resources on the #FakeMeds website.

Update

The BBC has shared that a man has been arrested in suspicion of the posession of unlicensed semaglutide.

The Newsbeat team was invited to accompany Humberside Police and the MHRA on the raids at two adresses in Humberside, after its undercover investigation into the black market sales of 'skinny injections'.

The man arrested is in his 30s, from the Goole area in East Yorkshire. The raid was the first of its kind, targeting the unlicensed trade of semaglutide.

Update January 2024

December 2023 saw online searches for ‘semaglutide injection price’ increase by 140% and it seems that interest in weight loss injections is only growing, experts expect interest to increase further in January 2024.

According to the British Association of Beauty Therapy and Cosmetology (BABTAC), the industry is largely unregulated, meaning that at present, injections may be offered by non-medical professionals. A concern further highlighted by a recent report published by the MHRA, which brought attention to a surge of fake weight loss injections entering the market, which pose huge risk to public safety.

BABTAC chief executive and chair Lesley Blair says: “As consumer interest has shifted to become more open-minded to non-surgical procedures and injectables, it’s easy to see why customers may become desensitised to treatments offered via injections. However, it is likely that they are not asking important questions, such as whether the individual is a medical professional, or even legally allowed to prescribe the drug. This, coupled with the reality that those seeking a weight loss drug may feel it is their only option, can expose potentially vulnerable clients to dangerous consequences.”

Blair continues, “with the lack of regulation currently governing this industry, it can be confusing for customers to navigate, though it is worth noting that the UK law currently states that any product containing semaglutide should be offered via prescription only. While it may be potentially cheaper, or you might feel like you are getting more privacy by obtaining the drug online or from a beauty practitioner, it is simply not worth the risk of self-injecting a drug that has the potential to be mixed with unknown ingredients.”