U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn and Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti have urged the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to investigate questionable online marketing practices concerning GLP-1 receptor agonists. These drugs are being promoted as alternatives to FDA-approved weight loss medications like Ozempic, with claims that mislead consumers and compromise public health.
The officials expressed concerns about foreign criminals and con artists exploiting the demand for these medications by selling counterfeit or deceptively marketed GLP-1 drugs. They noted that many sellers advertise directly to consumers on social media, suggesting their products offer an easier and more affordable way to obtain these drugs.
A recent study highlighted issues with online sales advertising for compounded GLP-1 medications. The study found that most websites did not disclose that these drugs were not FDA-approved, and some incorrectly suggested they were. Many sites lacked adequate safety information and made unauthorized efficacy claims.
“These illicit activities have already resulted in severe harm to unsuspecting users,” said Blackburn and Skrmetti, citing over 900 adverse events linked to compounded versions of trizepitide and semaglutide, including at least 17 deaths.
The officials called on the FTC to investigate these marketing practices under Section 5 of the FTC Act. They also encouraged collaboration with the FDA to issue clear guidance on marketing compounded pharmaceuticals as substitutes for regulated medications.
“Swift action will help protect public health and reaffirm the Commission’s role in ensuring ‘truthful, non-misleading and accurate’ advertising of sensitive products consumers are putting into their bodies,” they stated.
