Fake weight-loss medication in tablet form could flood Britain, experts warn

"Experts are warning that fake weight-loss treatments could become more prevalent as tablet forms of the medications, currently available only via injections in the UK, are launched. They say stronger regulation and enforcement are needed to prevent fraudsters from cashing in on tablets which will be easier to counterfeit. While pill forms of weight-loss medications are expected to be much cheaper, and hence more accessible than injectable versions,"

"experts have warned they are also an easier target for fraudsters. Pills are much easier prey for scammers than injectables as they require relatively accessible equipment to manufacture the pill something to mix the powders and a pill press and can provide the scope for vast production, said Bhavik Patel, a professor of clinical and bioanalytical chemistry at the University of Brighton."

Tablet versions of GLP-1 weight-loss medications are expected to be cheaper and more accessible than injectable formulations, prompting concerns that counterfeit pills will become more prevalent. Pills require relatively accessible equipment and can be mass-produced, making them an easier target for scammers compared with injectables that demand pens, needles and refrigeration. Injectable drugs such as Wegovy and Mounjaro produce significant average weight loss but are costly and supply-limited. Oral formulations from manufacturers including Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly are advancing through regulatory review. Counterfeit tablets could be diverted from supply chains, stored incorrectly, contaminated, or contain incorrect or no active ingredients, increasing health risks and highlighting regulatory enforcement gaps.

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