EMA and the Heads of Medicines Agencies (HMA) are warning the public about the growing threat of illegal medicines being advertised and sold online across the European Union (EU).
In recent months there has been a sharp rise in the number of illegal medicines marketed as GLP-1 receptor agonists such as semaglutide, liraglutide and tirzepatide for weight loss and diabetes. These products, often sold via fraudulent websites and promoted on social media, are not authorised and do not meet necessary standards of quality, safety and efficacy.
Such illegal products pose a serious risk to public health. They may not contain the claimed active substance at all and may contain harmful levels of other substances.
People who use these products are therefore at a very high risk of treatment failure, unexpected and serious health problems and dangerous interactions with other medicines.
Authorities have identified hundreds of fake Facebook profiles, advertisements and e-commerce listings, many of which are hosted outside the EU. Some fraudulent websites and social media advertisements misuse official logos and use false endorsements to mislead consumers. Illegal suppliers are being actively monitored by national authorities. Enforcement actions include ordering product withdrawals, blocking websites and cross-border collaboration with enforcement officers and other international partners.
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