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The UK’s medicines regulator has urged people not to buy weight-loss injections through social media sellers or other unverified channels, warning that doing so could pose “real risk” to health as illegal sales expand.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) issued the alert as demand for popular weight-loss jabs continues to rise. Treatments such as Wegovy and Mounjaro have become widely sought after, and trials suggest Mounjaro can help people lose an average of 20% of their body weight after 72 weeks of treatment. With access on the NHS limited, prescriptions required and costs high, authorities say a thriving black market has developed.
MHRA: only buy from registered UK pharmacies and legitimate retailers
Jenn Matthissen, from the MHRA’s safety and surveillance team, said people may be looking for ways to improve their health at this time of year, but warned that purchasing medicines from illegal online sellers can put individuals at significant risk.
The regulator advised the public to only use authorised products sourced from registered UK pharmacies or legitimate retailers, and to seek guidance from healthcare professionals on safe, evidence-based options.
Factory raid in Northampton and continued advertising on Telegram
The MHRA pointed to recent enforcement action that highlights the scale of illicit activity. In October, the agency said it seized more than £250,000 worth of counterfeit weight-loss jab products during a raid on a factory in Northampton. The haul included injection pens for retatrutide, an experimental drug that is not licensed in the UK.
A subsequent investigation by the Guardian reported that the company linked to the seized products, Alluvi Healthcare Ltd, continued to advertise replicas of retatrutide across multiple Telegram channels. The investigation is available here: Guardian investigation.
Scams, unusually low prices and “miracle” claims flagged as warning signs
Banks have also raised concerns about scams connected to weight-loss medications, reporting that victims lose £120 on average. Related reporting is available here: Banks warning of scams.
The MHRA said it has previously warned about prescription weight-loss medicines being sold illegally without a prescription via beauty salons, fake pharmacy websites and social media posts. The agency highlighted key red flags, including social media offers advertising unusually low prices, “miracle results” or “quick fixes”.
Among the dangers, the regulator warned that medicines from illegal sellers could be counterfeit, contaminated or supplied at the wrong dose. It also said some products may contain ingredients not listed on the label, which could be harmful.
Storage concerns could affect safety and effectiveness
Experts have additionally cautioned that illicit sellers may fail to store weight-loss medicines correctly. The MHRA noted that if such drugs are exposed to extremely cold temperatures or freeze, their safety and effectiveness could be reduced.
Health minister: “please do not buy weight loss medications from unregulated sources”
The health minister Dr Zubir Ahmed warned against buying weight-loss medications from unregulated sources, describing them as products made without regard for safety or quality and posing a major risk to customers.
He urged the public not to “line the pockets of criminals” and said that while licensed obesity drugs can significantly help those with a clinical need, they should be obtained from a registered pharmacy with a valid prescription.
Further reading referenced alongside the warnings includes: Illegal weight-loss drugs being sold in UK by firms with high Trustpilot scores and an explainer on the popularity of these medicines: weight-loss jabs such as Wegovy and Mounjaro have become hugely popular for weight loss.
