EMA and the Heads of Medicines Agencies (HMA) are warning the public about the growing threat of illegal medicines being advertised and sold online across the European Union (EU).
In recent months there has been a sharp rise in the number of illegal medicines marketed as GLP-1 receptor agonists such as semaglutide, liraglutide and tirzepatide for weight loss and diabetes. These products, often sold via fraudulent websites and promoted on social media, are not authorised and do not meet necessary standards of quality, safety and efficacy.