Warning after ‘King Kong’ of weight-loss jabs found being sold illegally on social media
An investigation has revealed that counterfeit versions of highly sought-after weight loss vaccines are being sold illegally on social media.
Retatrutide, seen as the ‘King Kong’ of weight loss drugs, works twice as fast as existing medications to help people lose weight, according to early studies.
The drug is being developed by Eli Lilly, the pharmaceutical giant behind Mounjaro, but Retatrutide is still in clinical trials and has not yet been licensed for use anywhere in the world.
But on major social platforms like Facebook and TikTok, people are selling weight loss injections that they claim are Retatrutide.
One Channel 4 News’ investigation revealed how easily an undercover reporter was able to purchase and collect a counterfeit version of the drug.
At the reporter’s insistence, the seller claimed the injections were bought from a pharmacy and were available on the NHS. The reporter also received “contradictory” instructions about how many times a week he should use the injection.
The investigation revealed that two companies were selling counterfeit or illegal versions of weight loss drugs. Eli Lilly said it would take action against the companies. Independent contacted both for comment.
Former Big Brother housemate Aisleyne Horgan-Wallace has said she lost the sight in one eye after taking a copy of the weight loss pill she bought on TikTok.
When he received the package containing the needles, he said there were “no manuals or instructions.”
He told Channel 4: “There were vomit bags lined up next to my bed. I couldn’t go to the toilet. It was literally the worst time of my life physically. I had lost my vision in one eye. I thought that was it. I’m either going to die or go blind. It was absolute torture.”
NHS GP who prescribes licensed weight loss pills Dr. When Nancy Allen showed one of the illegal vaccine packages, she said she had never seen it before and expressed “serious concerns” about patient safety.
Sales of fat-fighting Mounjaro and Wegovy injections reached 2.5 million in July; This figure is seven times higher than in the same period last year. Telegram.
Ozempic-style drugs will be widely available on the NHS under plans drawn up by Wes Streeting, but they are currently rarely available with a free prescription and many people opt for specialist drugs.
The popularity of vaccines has skyrocketed in the past year as they are increasingly used to combat obesity. Around 4 per cent of UK households currently use them.
Following the investigation, both TikTok and Meta, the parent company of Facebook, Instagram and WhatsApp, removed the content.
Meta added that he is “constantly working to get better at detection.”
TikTok also banned related hashtags and search suggestions, and cited its community guidelines, which it said “are clear that we do not allow trading, marketing, or providing access to regulated, prohibited, or high-risk products and services.” He added: “This includes regulated substances, such as products marketed for weight loss or muscle gain.”
A statement from Eli Lilly said: “Retatrutide is an investigational molecule that is legally accessible only to participants in Lilly’s clinical trials. Anyone claiming to sell retatrutide for human use is breaking the law, and no one should consider taking anything claiming to be retatrutide outside of a Lilly-sponsored clinical trial.”
The program was named Inside the black market for illegal weight loss pillsIt was broadcast on Channel 4 News on Wednesday night.
