Attorney General Kwame Raoul has spearheaded a bipartisan coalition of 38 states and territories, urging the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to act against entities distributing counterfeit versions of weight loss and diabetes medications, including Mounjaro, Zepbound, Ozempic, and Wegovy. These drugs are known as GLP-1 medications.
Raoul emphasized the increasing demand for GLP-1 drugs among Americans seeking weight loss solutions. "The usage of GLP-1 medications continues to increase as millions of Americans seek tools to help them lose weight and live healthier lifestyles. However, scammers and bad actors are attempting to take advantage of individuals looking for more affordable and convenient means of obtaining GLP-1 medications by selling them directly to consumers," he stated. He expressed concern that consumers purchasing these drugs might unknowingly buy counterfeit products not meant for human use.
In a letter released today, Raoul and his coalition highlighted issues with online retailers who sell active ingredients of GLP-1 medications without prescriptions. These sellers often claim their products are "for research purposes only" or "not for human consumption," yet they market them directly to consumers through social media as cheaper alternatives. The coalition warned that these ingredients come from unregulated sources, posing contamination risks.
Raoul called on the FDA to leverage its resources against deceptive practices by counterfeit drug manufacturers and online sellers. The coalition also suggested collaboration between the FDA and state pharmacy boards to ensure safe production environments for compounded GLP-1 drugs.
In December 2024, Raoul's office issued cease-and-desist letters to five Chicago-area med spas over potentially misleading advertising related to GLP-1 drugs. The Attorney General urged Illinois residents to be cautious about purchasing such products.
The bipartisan letter was co-led by attorneys general from Colorado, South Carolina, Tennessee, along with those from Alaska, Arkansas, California, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Hawaii, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan, Minnesota, Mississippi, Nevada, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, North Dakota Ohio Oklahoma Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island Utah Vermont Virgin Islands Virginia West Virginia Wisconsin
Residents can report deceptive marketing or unsafe product sales via the Attorney General’s website or consumer fraud hotlines:
1-800-386-5438 (Chicago)
1-800-243-0618 (Springfield)
1-800-243-0607 (Carbondale)
1-866-310-8398 (Spanish-language hotline)