February 19, 2025 – South Carolina Attorney General Alan Wilson announced he is leading 37 states on a territory bipartisan coalition requesting the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to act on counterfeit forms of weight loss and diabetes drugs.

The drugs mentioned in the letter include: Mounjaro, Zepbound, Ozempic and Wegovy.

“The popularity of these drugs is growing at a rate that exceeds production by licensed manufacturers and has opened the door for copycat products from countries like China and India to flow through the U.S. supply chain that are seriously harming consumers,” said Attorney General Wilson in a release.

In the letter, it mentions “online retailers are illegally selling the active ingredients of GLP-1 drugs directly to consumers, without a prescription. The retailers claim that the active ingredients they sell are ‘for research purposes only’ or ‘not for human consumption.’ In reality, these companies advertise directly to consumers on social media, claiming that their products are an easier and more affordable way to obtain GLP-1 drugs. Much like with counterfeit versions, these active ingredients come from unregulated, undisclosed sources and pose risks of contamination and includsion of foreign substances.”

“Protecting consumers is of utmost priority to me and the lengths that these counterfeiters are going to take advantage of consumers and endanger their health must be stopped,” said Attorney General Wilson in a release.

In the letter, it declares that the FDA has the expertise and resources to stop the bad conduct and deceptive practices by counterfeit drug manufacturers and that they should increase enforcement actions against compounding pharmacies illegally participating in their market. It also encourages the FDA to partner with state pharmacy boards to ensure compounded GLP-1 drugs are produced safely and in sanitary environments.

By Alvieann Chandler, FOX Carolina
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