Written and Reviewed By: Vikas Londhe, MPharm
On 3 September 2025, the European Medicines Agency (EMA), together with the Heads of Medicines Agencies (HMA), issued a serious warning about a sudden spike in illegal medicines being sold across the European Union. These medicines particularly GLP-1 receptor agonists such as semaglutide, liraglutide, and Tirzepatide are being marketed online for weight loss and diabetes treatment despite not being authorized.
Why This Warning Matters
GLP-1 receptor agonists are potent, prescription-only medications developed to manage chronic conditions like type 2 diabetes and obesity. The unregulated brands which are being sold illegally online do not meet necessary quality, safety, or efficacy standards. They may:
Contain none of the active ingredient claimed in their advertisement.
Include dangerous or unknown substances.
Hence the people who buy and use these illegal medicines are at higher risk of treatment failure, serious health issues, or harmful drug interactions.
What’s happening
Fraudsters are exploiting social media and fake websites to promote these drugs. Authorities have discovered hundreds of fake Facebook profiles, advertisements, and e-commerce listings, many of them are found to be hosted outside the EU. These advertisement and websites often misuse official logos and endorsements to show they are genuine.
EU has been actively monitoring this illegal activity of medicine supply and is a started taking action which includes ordering product withdrawals, blocking of websites, and collaborating with other regulators, enforcement officers and international partners across borders to enforce regulations.
Red Flags of Illegal Medicines
EMA offers guidance to people recognizes unauthorized products. The following are some warning signs that the medicine may be illegal.
- Fake endorsements or misuse of national authority logos
- Sale via unofficial websites or social media
- Claims of superiority without scientific proof
- Not available through licensed pharmacies or healthcare providers
- Missing the common EU logo required on authorized online pharmacies; clicking this logo should link to the national registry of approved retailer
What Patients and Caregivers Should Do
GLP-1 medicines should only be used under medical supervision. Patients are requested to:
Always consult a healthcare professional before considering these treatments.
Obtain medications only from reputable and authorized sources. Legal online medicines retailers in EU regions are listed in registers of national authorities.
EMA is not endorsed or support any specific products or brands, if anyone claiming such endorsement they may be false.
Avoid purchasing from social media, unverified websites, or sellers without the EU logo.
Report any untrustworthy websites, advertisements or products immediately to your country specific national competent authority
Broader Context & Public Health Risks
GLP-1 agonists like semaglutide, liraglutide, and tirzepatide have proven benefits when used correctly but they come with known and serious side effects, such as pancreatitis, gallstones, and dehydration if misused or taken unsupervised, treatment failure due to no active ingredient may pose serious health effect such as uncontrolled sugar level in blood.
Because of their potent effect in diabetes and obesity, GLP-1 drugs are also being promoted in unregulated areas like wellness, fitness, and fashion industries. In some cases, gym trainers and influencers have encouraged their use for fast weight loss, without medical advice. This type of promotion treats prescription medicines like lifestyle products, which can lead to unsafe use.
A similar situation has been seen in India, where GLP-1 drugs were advertised in fitness and beauty circles, and the issue became serious enough that a case was filed in the Delhi High Court.
The U.S. FDA has been warning about counterfeit semaglutide and tirzepatide sold under false labels like “for research purposes,” or “not for human consumption” and encouraging only licensed pharmacies be used.
References
Warning about sharp rise in illegal medicines sold in the EU, 03 September, 2025, European Medicine Agency, https://www.ema.europa.eu/en/news/warning-about-sharp-rise-illegal-medicines-sold-eu
Can the Weight Loss Indication of Semaglutide and Tirzepatide Be Revoked in India? Understanding the Recent PIL against GLP-1 Drugs, Pharmacally.com, 08 July 2025, https://pharmacally.com/can-the-weight-loss-indication-of-semaglutide-and-tirzepatide-be-revoked-in-india-understanding-the-recent-pil-against-glp-1-drugs/
FDA’s Concerns with Unapproved GLP-1 Drugs Used for Weight Loss, 08 August 2025, USFDA, https://www.fda.gov/drugs/postmarket-drug-safety-information-patients-and-providers/fdas-concerns-unapproved-glp-1-drugs-used-weight-loss
