In an open letter released this Tuesday (27), pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly and Company issues a warning about manipulated and counterfeit versions of the drug Mounjaro indicated for the treatment of type 2 diabetes. In the document, the company reiterates that, despite being approved in Brazil, the medicine is not yet available for sale in the country.
In the open letterLilly says it is “concerned about the proliferation of counterfeit products that look like genuine Lilly medicines.” According to the company, these fake products are often advertised and sold online through social media.
“Lilly does not sell tirzepatide on social media. Any Lilly drug product sold through advertising on social media is illegal. These products may be counterfeit or are being ‘resold’ by individuals who obtained them through other means. Both practices can put patients at risk,” the letter states.
The company also reiterates that any products containing tirzepatide that are not from Lilly have not been approved by health authorities. “Therefore, by purchasing medications that have not had these approvals or obtaining them from unverified sources, you may be acquiring a counterfeit product,” it endorses.
The document also warns about safety risks related to the sterility and efficacy of these fake products.
“Because this is a drug administered subcutaneously, sterility becomes an even more critical safety concern. Some of the products tested contained bacteria, high levels of impurities, were different colors (pink instead of colorless), or had a completely different chemical structure than Lilly’s drug. In at least one case, the product was nothing more than alcohol,” the letter states.
“It is important to remember that products claiming to contain tirzepatide or counterfeit products are not inspected by regulatory authorities and may be manufactured in unsanitary and unsafe conditions. In addition, they may not contain the active ingredient, or contain the incorrect active ingredient, with incorrect dosages, or even several drugs mixed together, which can result in serious health problems,” he adds.
The pharmaceutical company also reiterates that the tirzepatide-based medication was approved only in the subcutaneous version, and that other versions in the form of pills, chips, nasal sprays, tablets or other oral versions of the medication are fake. “No regulatory body has evaluated the safety or efficacy of any oral or nasal administration of the molecule,” it states.
Finally, Lilly says in the document that it has already begun taking legal action against those selling counterfeit tirzepatide products. “You can also help prevent illegal sales by reporting suspicious products that claim to contain tirzepatide. If you are concerned that you may have received or used counterfeit or manipulated versions, contact your doctor or seek immediate medical attention,” it concludes.
What is Mounjaro (tirzepatide)?
Mounjaro is a medicine based on tirzepatide, a double agonist molecule of GLP-1 and GIP, hormones generated in the intestine and released after meals. The medicine has the ability to stimulate the action of both GLP-1 and GIP, increasing the production of insulin by the pancreas to maintain blood sugar control.
The same molecule has also been approved for the treatment of obesity in the United States, under the trade name Zepbound. In studies, Mounjaro has been shown to be more powerful than Ozempic for weight loss.
Tirzepatide is currently being studied as a potential treatment for obese and/or overweight people with heart failure with preserved ejection fraction (HFpEF), obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and metabolic dysfunction-associated steatohepatitis (MASH). Studies of tirzepatide in chronic kidney disease (CKD) and obesity morbidity/mortality (OMM) are also ongoing.
Mounjaro reduces risk of prediabetes turning into diabetes by 94%
This content was originally published in Pharmaceutical company warns about risks of fake Mounjaro; see on the CNN Brasil website.
Source: CNN Brasil

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