More than 2,000 counterfeit weight-loss injections, valued at around £250,000, were confiscated from an illicit facility in Northampton. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and Northamptonshire Police conducted a joint operation, resulting in what is believed to be the largest seizure of weight loss medications globally.
The unapproved pens contained tirzepatide, a key component in Mounjaro and Zepbound, produced exclusively by American pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly, and retratutide, an experimental weight-loss drug still under trial and not authorized for use. Eli Lilly cautioned that individuals purchasing these illegal injections would have no knowledge of their actual contents.
In addition to the fake injections, authorities seized raw materials, tens of thousands of empty pens awaiting filling, and £20,000 in cash. An MHRA spokesperson described the discovery as the first illegal weight loss medicine manufacturing site found in the UK and the largest haul of trafficked weight loss drugs ever seized globally.
Health Secretary Wes Streeting commended the operation, emphasizing the dangers posed by criminals selling unauthorized and unsafe weight loss products. He urged the public to avoid purchasing weight loss medications from unregulated sources, advising consultation with healthcare professionals or the NHS to ensure safety.
Andy Morling, head of the MHRA’s criminal enforcement unit, highlighted the significant threat posed by these untested and potentially lethal products. He stressed the importance of purchasing prescription medicines only from licensed pharmacies with a healthcare professional’s prescription.
Despite the seizure, no arrests have been reported in connection with the incident. Weight-loss injections are strictly available through the NHS for eligible patients meeting specific criteria.
