Experts warn that the upcoming release of oral weight-loss medications in the UK will create new opportunities for counterfeiters. While pill forms of drugs like Wegovy and Mounjaro are expected to be cheaper and more accessible than injectable versions, they will also become easier to fake, posing a significant public health risk. The shift from injections to pills fundamentally alters the fraud landscape. Injectables require sterile equipment, refrigerated storage, and traceable supply chains, making counterfeiting more complex. Pills, in contrast, can be manufactured with relatively simple equipment – mixers and pill presses – enabling large-scale, untraceable production.
The Demand and the Risks
Demand for weight-loss drugs like Wegovy and Mounjaro has surged in the UK, with clinical trials showing average weight losses of 14% to 20% after 72 weeks. This demand, coupled with high prices for injectables, drives consumers toward cheaper online alternatives, creating a vulnerable market for counterfeiters.
Counterfeit pills may contain incorrect doses, inactive ingredients, or dangerous contaminants. Unlike legitimate medications, fakes lack quality control and can pose severe health risks. According to Dr. Bernard Naughton of Trinity College Dublin, patients are already more willing to take risks with pills than injections, even suspecting fraud. This willingness to gamble with their health is a dangerous trend that counterfeiters exploit.
Regulatory Challenges
The UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has already demonstrated proactivity through raids, such as the Northampton factory bust in October, seizing £250,000 worth of counterfeit weight-loss jabs. However, the scale of potential pill counterfeiting will strain resources. Experts warn that completely eradicating these products from the market may be impossible given the ease of production and online distribution.
Pharmaceutical companies like Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly are taking steps to combat counterfeits, including online monitoring, supply chain tracking, and providing samples for forensic testing. The MHRA is also using AI tools to detect falsified online adverts and strengthening regulatory enforcement. Despite these efforts, the lack of arrests or prosecutions in some cases emboldens criminals, signaling low risk and high reward.
The Need for Stronger Action
To protect public health, experts call for several measures:
- Stricter regulation and enforcement: Ensuring robust controls on manufacturing, supply, and monitoring of weight-loss drugs.
- Public awareness campaigns: Educating patients about the risks of buying pharmaceuticals online without prescriptions or medical supervision.
- Easy verification for online pharmacies: Making it straightforward for consumers to confirm the legitimacy of online sellers.
- Stronger deterrents: Increasing the risk of prosecution for counterfeiters to discourage illegal operations.
The shift to oral weight-loss drugs will inevitably widen opportunities for criminals. Without decisive action, the UK risks a flood of counterfeit medications that could harm public health and erode trust in the pharmaceutical system.
