Virtual pharmacies advertising weight loss jabs at a discounted price are acting in an unethical way, according to health experts.
People can now buy Wegovy, Ozempic and Mounjaro online, with some websites offering discount codes, special offers and free delivery.
Wegovy and Ozempic have the same active ingredient, semaglutide.
However, the Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Authority (MHRA) and Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) states that prescription drugs should not be advertised.
Online pharmacies can however advertise weight loss injections if no specific products are mentioned.
- Link between semaglutide and eye condition identified
- Man arrested on suspicion of selling unauthorised semaglutide
- Mounjaro comes out top in battle of the weight loss drugs
Campaigners are demanding tighter regulations after pharmacies are profiting off the back of these popular weight loss jabs.
People wanting weight loss products can get 10% off repeat orders from Boots.
In addition, new Superdrug customers can receive the same discount by using a ‘Save On Your Weight Loss Treatment’ code.
Meanwhile, Simple Online Pharmacy is offering a 30% discount on weight-loss pens and MedExpress is giving customer £40 off their weight loss injections.
These promotions are compliant with MHRA and ASA regulations because they do not mention specific names of weight loss drugs.
Oksana Pyzik, a lecturer at the UCL school of pharmacy, said: “Pharmacies are highly trusted by the public and online pharmacies advertising access to weight loss jabs at discount is not only harmful to patients but undermines trust of all online healthcare providers.
“Swift action is required to nip this viral trend in the bud – compliance with MHRA regulation around advertising of prescription-only medications is mandatory for all pharmacies online or otherwise – public safety depends on it.”
Weight loss jabs have soared in popularity over the last year, with reports of people using the injections losing up to a fifth of their body weight.
The NHS prescribes Ozempic to treat type 2 diabetes, whereas Wegovy and Mounjaro are used to treat obesity.
Online pharmacies are selling private prescriptions which have not undergone all the required medical checks.
Stephen Powis, NHS National Medical Director, is advising the public to not buy weight loss jabs online after research has shown that they are associated with potential side effects, such as nausea, pancreatitis and gallbladder complications.
- Fake Ozempic: weight-loss drug hospitalises people in Austria
- Experts sound alarm over ‘quick fix’ weight loss jab misuse
- Experimental weight-loss jab is 5 times more effective than Wegovy and Ozmepic
Tam Fry, chairman of the National Obesity Forum, said: “It is utterly unethical for pharmacies to be promoting these drugs like this.
“We still do not know the full effects of them, and it feels like as businesses, they are irresponsibly cashing in on people’s insecurities.”
Tam added: “The rush to lose weight is understandable, but they really are not to be taken without a proper prescription from a GP and then patients are kept under surveillance.”
Each day, the ASA works with Instagram to delete roughly 100 adverts promoting prescription-only medicines every day.
An ASA spokesman said: “Our rules encompass all forms of media, including online spaces. Ads can reference consultations on the area of treatment, but only as long as that reference is representative of a licence for that prescription only medicine.”
The General Pharmaceutical Council stated: “Our guidance to pharmacists includes that special offers on prices of medicines should not be highlighted on the website as they are likely to promote the specific prescription-only medicines.”
A spokesperson from Boots said: “All Boots Online Doctor prices are for the full service – from the online consultation to aftercare and support – and not for prescription medicines alone.
“Weight loss treatment is most effective when used consistently, alongside important lifestyle changes.”
They added: “We offer 10% off the Boots Online Doctor Weight Loss Service for returning patients to encourage them to stay with us to receive continuity of care.”
A representative from Superdrug said: “Our Superdrug Online Doctor advertising is in full compliance with the ASA and MHRA’s specific weight loss service guidelines which allow for advertising of weight loss services, provided no reference is made to any prescription only medication that might be provided as part of the treatment.”
- Call for public to be cautious of online pharmacies following series of deaths
- Mother has near-fatal encounter with counterfeit weight-loss jab bought online
- Weight loss plateau unavoidable even with Ozempic and Wegovy
Simple Online Pharmacy said: “We take compliance with advertising guidelines very seriously, especially in areas as sensitive as medication.
“We believe our advertising practices adhere to all relevant regulatory standards and Google Ad policies.”
An MHRA spokesperson said: “The MHRA takes concerns about the illegal promotion of prescription weight loss medicines to the public very seriously.
“We consider complaints we receive about the alleged advertising of prescription only medicines to the public, looking at each case on its own merits and, where appropriate, working with other regulators to take action.”
