Reviewed by Pharmacist Zohara Multani MPharm, PgClinDip, IPresc 01.03.2025
There has been an alarming rise in the availability of counterfeit/fake Mounjaro® and this has led to Eli Lilly, the manufacturers of Mounjaro®, to file six lawsuits against criminals involved in the supply of counterfeit products1. Lilly has issued an open letter listing the danger of using fake/counterfeit injections. The letter advises on the safety of prescribing, obtaining and using Mounjaro®.
It is crucial that patients understand the dangers of using counterfeit weight loss injections, including the risk that they come with. Patients should be vigilant about ensuring authenticity of Mounjaro® to protect their health.
Lilly, in their open letter, have also shown clear images of what Mounjaro® looks like and the main features it should contain.
Some key signs which indicate that Mounjaro® is not genuine include:
- It’s not prescribed by a healthcare provider – Fake products are often sold at lower prices by people without any medical training.
- Available to purchase through social media – As per Eli Lilly’s open letter, they do not sell Mounjaro® on social media.
- Not injectable – Genuine Tirzepatide exists as an injection and is injected once a week, therefore if any oral products are claiming to be Mounjaro® are fake/counterfeit.
- Labelling – Medicine labels containing “for research purposes only” or “not for human consumption” should not be used.
- Text legibility – Fake medicines can contain badly printed text
- Lack of serial/batch numbers – genuine medicines should contain a serial or batch number, which you can verify with the manufacturer to ensure that it is a genuine medicinal product.
- The Color of liquid inside the pen – Genuine Mounjaro® should be clear and colourless.
- Holographic Seal: Genuine medicinal products should feature this and the seal must appear intact and properly fixed. If there are any signs of tampering, this could suggest a counterfeit medicine.
Mounjaro® and other weight loss injections are prescription only. Registered and regulated providers, such as MedsAhead, follow strict guidelines to ensure that medicines provided are authentic and safe.
Providers, such as MedsDoctor, will assess patient suitability for treatment by carrying out key checks (such as ID, BMI, questionnaire). You will be given comprehensive advice by a doctor or pharmacist including counselling regarding the side effect profile of the weight loss injection. In addition, you will be provided with full counselling regarding the dosage, frequency and administration of the weight loss injection.
If you suspect that you have received counterfeit Mounjaro®, immediately stop using the medication and contact your healthcare provider to seek medical advice as soon as possible.
Conclusion
It is important to recognise the importance of authenticity and how counterfeit medication can pose serious health risks. Being vigilant in recognising key features of genuine medicinal products can help you identify real Mounjaro® from a fake product.
References
- Lilly Warns Patients About Counterfeit and Compounded Medicines Releases Open Letter and Takes Further Legal Action Against Counterfeit, Fake, Unsafe, and Untested Products | Eli Lilly and Company [Internet]. Eli Lilly and Company. 2023. Available from: https://investor.lilly.com/news-releases/news-release-details/lilly-warns-patients-about-counterfeit-and-compounded-medicines
- An Open Letter From Eli Lilly and Company Regarding Certain Practices Related to Mounjaro® and Zepbound® | Eli Lilly and Company [Internet]. Eli Lilly and Company. 2024. Available from: https://investor.lilly.com/news-releases/news-release-details/open-letter-eli-lilly-and-company-regarding-certain-practices
PDF version An Open Letter From Eli Lilly and Company Regarding Certain Practices Related to Mounjaro® and Zepbound®