, Columnist
Fake Obesity Drugs Are Genuinely Dangerous
Consumers desperate for semaglutide are turning to shady online dealers. And the problem may outlast the shortages of Zepbound and Wegovy.
The real McCoy.
Photographer: Shelby Knowles/BloombergThis article is for subscribers only.
We’re firmly in the “buyer beware” era of obesity drugs. And unfortunately, it seems like we’re going to be stuck here for a while — even after product shortages resolve.
There’s recently been a flurry of worrying warnings about the safety and efficacy of knock-off obesity medications. Despite how these drugs are often marketed, they are not generic versions of Novo Nordisk’s Wegovy or Eli Lilly & Co.’s Zepbound. And they might be dangerous, as a new study — and increased calls to Poison Control — make clear.