The World Health Organization (WHO) and Eli Lilly Co. have issued warnings to consumers about the circulation of counterfeit weight-loss drugs in multiple countries.

The WHO reported receiving numerous reports since 2022 about fake versions of semaglutide, the active ingredient in Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy and Ozempic, across all regions globally. Dr. Yukiko Nakatani, WHO Assistant Director-General for Access to Medicines and Health Products, urged healthcare professionals, regulatory authorities, and the public to be vigilant. She emphasized the importance of stopping the use of suspicious medicines and reporting them to the appropriate authorities.

In a similar vein, Eli Lilly expressed "deep concern" over counterfeit or compounded versions of tirzepatide, the active ingredient in its weight-loss drugs Mounjaro and Zepbound. These fake products are often sold online, via social media, or at certain medical spas. They may contain incorrect or mixed medications, posing serious health risks. Eli Lilly stressed that these counterfeit products are never safe to use.

Novo Nordisk has also previously issued warnings about counterfeit versions of its medications.

To protect themselves, the WHO advises patients to use prescriptions from licensed physicians and avoid purchasing medications from unfamiliar sources. Eli Lilly noted that any product marketed as tirzepatide but not under the brand names Mounjaro or Zepbound is not manufactured by the company and is not FDA-approved.

Consumers are encouraged to remain cautious and ensure they are obtaining medications from reputable and verified sources to avoid potentially dangerous counterfeit products.