Pharmacies are endangering public safety by offering ‘unethical’ promotions for weight-loss vaccines, experts say.
The Mail reveals that brands including Wegovy, Mounjaro and Ozempic are being sold online with attractive discounts, special offers and free delivery.
Advertising prescription-only medicines is against the rules of both the Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Authority (MHRA) and the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA).
But online pharmacies are allowed to advertise ‘weight loss services’ – including repeat prescription injections – as long as they do not list specific products.
Last night, activists urged authorities to close the loophole, warning that the market for weight-loss drugs is growing exponentially.
Online pharmacies are endangering public safety by offering ‘unethical’ promotions for weight-loss shots, experts say
Products like Wegovy, Mounjaro and Ozempic (pictured) are sold online with attractive offers such as discount codes, special offers and free delivery
They accused pharmacies of “irresponsibly capitalising on” the growing popularity of the drugs, which work by simulating hormones that regulate appetite.
A Mail audit found that simple search terms such as ‘buy Ozempic’, ‘buy Wegovy’ or ‘weight loss medication’ immediately generated pages of ‘sponsored’ advertisements from online pharmacies on search engines.
Major supermarket chain Boots advertised ’10 percent off repeat orders – Slimming service from £48′, while Superdrug offered the same discount to new customers with a ‘Save on your slimming treatment code’.
Simple Online Pharmacy says customers can ‘Save 30% – Was £199, Now £139 – Lowest Price Guarantee’ on slimming pens and MedExpress has ‘Slimming Injections – £149 – New Injection £149 – £40 Off’.
As no specific names of slimming medicines are mentioned, they comply with MHRA and ASA regulations. (must be kept)
Oksana Pyzik, a lecturer at UCL’s Faculty of Pharmacy, said such promotions undermine both patient safety and confidence.
She said: ‘Pharmacies enjoy a high level of public trust and online pharmacies advertising discounted diet vaccines are not only harmful to patients but also undermine trust in all online healthcare providers.
‘Urgent action is needed to stop this viral trend in its tracks. Compliance with the MHRA regulation on advertising prescription-only medicines is mandatory for all pharmacies, online or otherwise. Public safety depends on it.’
Over the past 12 months, the number of injectable weight loss medications available online has increased dramatically.
These drugs are known as GLP-1 receptor agonists and they reduce appetite and slow the rate at which the stomach empties. There are reports of patients losing up to a fifth of their body weight.
Ozempic is available on the NHS for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, while Wegovy and Mounjaro are only intended for obese patients with a body mass index (BMI) of more than 30 and 35 respectively.
However, there are growing concerns that people are obtaining private prescriptions through online consultations, often without first undergoing a thorough medical examination.
Campaigners have called on authorities to close the loophole, warning the market for slimming products is growing exponentially
The trend has prompted Stephen Powis, NHS national medical director, to warn the public against using them to get “beach ready” or “lose a few pounds”.
There are also concerns about possible side effects, such as pancreatitis and gallbladder problems, along with more common ailments such as nausea.
Tam Fry, chair of the National Obesity Forum, urged people to be careful about obesity, saying the long-term effects were not yet known.
He said: ‘It is completely unethical for pharmacies to promote these drugs in this way.
‘We still don’t know the full effects and it appears that companies are irresponsibly taking advantage of people’s uncertainty.
‘The rush to lose weight is understandable, but they really shouldn’t be taken without a valid prescription from a GP. In addition, patients are closely monitored.’
The anti-obesity drug market is expected to reach £100 billion in sales by 2030, driven by growing demand for drugs that are seen by many as a quick fix for weight loss.
Despite the regulations, social media ads are still commonplace. The Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) works with Instagram to remove around 100 ads a day.
An ASA spokesman said the rules were clear and prescription-only medicines could not be advertised.
Wegovy and Ozempic work by stimulating the body to produce a hormone called GLP-1 which is naturally released from the gut after meals
He said: ‘These rules cover all forms of media, including online spaces. Advertisements can refer to consultations about the treatment area, but only as long as that reference is representative of a licence for that prescription-only medicine.’
The General Pharmaceutical Council, which oversees pharmacists, said its guidelines for pharmacists include: “Special offers on medicine prices should not be highlighted on the website as these are likely to advertise specific medicines that are only available on prescription.”
Representatives from Boots, Superdrug and Simple Online Pharmacy said they fully comply with MHRA guidelines and the ASA advertising codes.
A Boots spokesperson said: ‘All Boots Online Doctor prices apply to the full service – from online consultation to aftercare and support – and not just prescription medicines.
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‘Weight loss treatment is most effective when used consistently, alongside important lifestyle changes. We are offering a 10 per cent discount on the Boots Online Doctor Weight Loss Service for returning patients to encourage them to stay with us for continuity of care.’
A Superdrug spokesperson said: ‘Our advertising for Superdrug Online Doctor fully complies with the specific guidelines set out by the ASA and MHRA for weight loss services. These guidelines permit advertising for weight loss services, provided that there is no reference to prescription-only medicines that may be provided as part of treatment.’
Simple Online Pharmacy said: ‘We take compliance with advertising guidelines very seriously, especially in sensitive areas such as medicines.
“We believe that our advertising practices comply with all relevant legal standards and Google Ad policies.”
MedExpress did not respond to requests for comment.
According to the MHRA, customers searching for information about a clinic or possible treatments should not be shown material advertising prescription-only medicines. However, the web pages they visit later may contain non-promotional information about specific medicines.
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Complaints were assessed on a case-by-case basis.
A spokesperson said: ‘The MHRA takes concerns about the illegal promotion of prescription weight loss drugs to the public very seriously.
‘We investigate complaints we receive about alleged advertising of prescription medicines to the public. We consider each case on its own merits and work with other regulators to take action where appropriate.’