LZVO warns: Rapid increase in online advertising and sale of counterfeit weight-loss medicines
The Latvian Medicines Verification Organization (LZVO), referring to public statements made by the European Medicines Agency and the Heads of Medicines Agencies network, warns about the growing threats posed by the online advertising and sale of illegal medicines across the European Union.
In recent months, there has been a sharp rise in the number of illegal medicines being marketed as GLP-1 type drugs. These active substances are found in several medicines intended for the treatment of diabetes. These products, often sold through fraudulent websites and promoted on social media, are not approved and do not meet the required standards of quality, safety, and efficacy.
Such illegal products pose a serious health risk. They may contain no active substance at all or may include harmful amounts of other substances. People who use these products are at very high risk of unexpected and severe health problems.
The European Medicines Agency reports that hundreds of fake “Facebook” profiles, advertisements, and e-commerce listings have been identified across Europe, many of which are hosted outside the European Union (EU). Some fraudulent websites and social media ads misuse official logos and false claims to deceive potential buyers.
The State Agency of Medicines and the Health Inspectorate inform that cases have also been identified in Latvia where prescription medicines are being sold on social media and through questionable websites.
The Inspectorate has ordered seven websites to remove such advertisements, fined an individual for selling medicines on social media, and blocked access to six websites involved in the distribution of these products.
The full statement from the Health Inspectorate in Latvian can be read here: https://www.vi.gov.lv/lv/jaunums/pieaug-zalu-viltojumu-risks-latvija-konstateti-recepsu-zalu-pardosanas-gadijumi-interneta
LZVO Board Chair Inese Erdmane emphasizes:
Purchasing prescription medicines through social media or suspicious online stores can result not only in financial loss but also in serious health risks. It is crucial to understand that buying medicines outside licensed pharmacies carries a high likelihood that the product will either lack the active ingredient or, worse, be mixed with potentially harmful substances. The only safe place to purchase prescription medicines is through licensed pharmacies or healthcare institutions, as only the legal supply chain guarantees the authenticity of medicines.
When buying non-prescription medicines from online pharmacies, consumers are encouraged to check whether the website displays the common EU logo. Since 2015, the EU has introduced a unified logo displayed on all registered online pharmacies and retailers — this initiative helps the public identify legitimate online medicine sellers. By clicking on the logo on a pharmacy’s website, patients are redirected to the State Agency of Medicines of Latvia’s online register, which lists all legally operating internet pharmacies in the country.
LZVO draws attention to key “red flags” that may indicate medicines are counterfeit:
- Medicines are sold through unofficial websites or social media platforms;
- Advertisements claim that the product is superior to approved treatments without scientific evidence;
- The specific medicine is not available in licensed pharmacies or healthcare institutions.
Thanks to the Latvian medicines verification system, prescription medicines dispensed in pharmacies and healthcare institutions are verified and authentic. This system, operating across Europe, was established in accordance with the EU Falsified Medicines Directive (2011/62/EU) and the Delegated Regulation on safety features on medicinal packaging (EU 2016/161), which together prevent counterfeit medicines from entering the legal supply chain.
As a result of these measures, Latvia maintains a high standard of safety and reliability for prescription medicines.