By hannover-web.com On September 19, the National Medical Products Administration (NMPA) in China announced findings from four significant cases of illegal online drug sales, focusing particularly on three incidents involving the unauthorized production and distribution of semaglutide, a widely sought-after weight-loss drug.
Originally designed as a GLP-1 receptor agonist to help manage blood sugar levels in individuals with type 2 diabetes, semaglutide has recently gained considerable popularity as an effective weight-loss solution. Unfortunately, this increased demand has also spurred a rise in counterfeit medications associated with it.
A quick search for “semaglutide” on e-commerce platforms like 1688 reveals a slew of manufacturers eager to provide production contracts. Many of these operations are illegally capitalizing on the drug’s popularity, churning out fake weight-loss injections.
According to a report released by the NMPA on September 18, law enforcement authorities in Guangdong province conducted a joint operation that uncovered an illegal drug production scheme in cities including Guangzhou, Nanchang, and Yingtan. Individuals such as Ye, Zhan, and Gao were found to be obtaining raw materials through platforms like WeChat, Alibaba, and Pinduoduo, manufacturing and marketing semaglutide-based weight-loss drugs without the requisite production or operational licenses. The estimated value of these illicit products totaled around 35 million yuan.
On the same day, a reporter searched for “semaglutide” on an e-commerce platform and discovered multiple sellers offering raw materials and OEM services. The reporter reached out to one biotechnology company and, after connecting on WeChat, received a self-generated quality inspection report from their staff.
As a potential buyer, the reporter learned that semaglutide was being offered at approximately 2,000 yuan per gram. When inquiring about the company’s registration status, the representative simply stated, “No.”
Although semaglutide is classified as a prescription drug, some unscrupulous individuals are sidestepping regulations by selling it through online platforms. One notable case highlighted by the NMPA involved a seller named Peng, who operated without a drug business license and sold semaglutide injections through online pharmaceutical supply networks and WeChat groups, netting 127,500 yuan.
Disturbingly, counterfeit semaglutide has also infiltrated unauthorized beauty clinics, where it’s marketed to consumers at significantly inflated prices. A report detailed inspections in January 2024 in Tongling, Anhui province, which revealed individuals selling unapproved semaglutide injection products lacking proper Chinese labeling, accumulating over 10 million yuan in sales.
In March of the previous year, authorities in Zhuji, Zhejiang province, made headlines by uncovering the first national case of counterfeit semaglutide, which involved “three-no” products—those lacking proper labeling, licenses, and traceability—distributed across more than 20 provinces. This operation alone led to sales exceeding 100 million yuan. Advertised under names like “AB Light Combo,” these counterfeit drugs contained negligible levels of the actual medication, with prices inflated by up to 50 times by the time they reached consumers.
On September 19, the reporter noted that products labeled as “light ingredients” continued to be available online, marketed with phrases like “innovative weight loss,” and priced at 46.36 yuan. Sales representatives suggested that customers would need to buy multiple units for a complete treatment, claiming it could help individuals lose 5 to 8 pounds and asserting that many beauty salons sourced their supplies from them.
Medical experts have cautioned that while semaglutide can be effective for weight loss, it comes with strict eligibility criteria. Individuals with a body mass index below 27 who are simply dissatisfied with their appearance are generally not appropriate candidates for the drug. Additionally, semaglutide has specific contraindications, particularly for those with a personal or family history of medullary thyroid carcinoma, multiple endocrine neoplasia syndrome type 2, or pancreatitis.
Novo Nordisk, the original manufacturer of semaglutide, has stressed the importance of following prescribed guidelines and sourcing medications through authorized channels to ensure both safety and efficacy. They have also advised against the use of semaglutide without a doctor’s recommendation.
In its announcement, the NMPA reiterated the potential dangers of purchasing pharmaceuticals from unregulated sources, emphasizing concerns over product quality, ingredient transparency, and the risk of severe toxicity that could pose serious health threats.
