Attorney General Gentner Drummond has urged the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to address the issue of counterfeit weight-loss and diabetes drugs. In a letter sent last week, Drummond, along with 37 other state and territory attorneys general, highlighted the risks posed by counterfeit versions of GLP-1 drugs such as Mounjaro, Zepbound, Ozempic, and Wegovy.
Drummond stated that due to high demand and costs for these medications, scammers have found opportunities to exploit consumers. "As demand for these popular prescription drugs outpaces production by licensed manufacturers, counterfeit products from China, India and other countries are entering into our supply chain at great risks to consumers in Oklahoma and elsewhere," he said. He emphasized the need for FDA intervention to prevent these unsafe drugs from reaching consumers.
The letter also pointed out that online retailers are selling active ingredients of GLP-1 drugs without prescriptions under misleading pretenses. These retailers claim their products are intended "for research purposes only" or "not for human consumption," while advertising them as affordable alternatives on social media. The letter warns that these ingredients often come from unregulated sources with potential contamination risks.
Drummond and his colleagues believe the FDA is equipped to tackle this issue through increased enforcement against compounding pharmacies involved in illegal activities. They also recommend collaboration between the FDA and state pharmacy boards to ensure safe production conditions for compounded GLP-1 drugs.
States joining Drummond in this call include Alaska, Arkansas, California, Colorado, Connecticut, Delaware, District of Columbia, Georgia, Hawaii, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maine, Maryland, Massachusetts, Michigan Minnesota Mississippi Nevada New Mexico New York North Carolina North Dakota Ohio Oregon Pennsylvania Rhode Island South Carolina Tennessee Utah Vermont Virgin Islands Virginia West Virginia Wisconsin.