'Beware of fake weight loss drug'

Counterfeit versions of a diabetes drug, also used to treat weight loss, are making the rounds in India, prompting drug regulators to warn doctors, chemists and patients about their purchase and consumption

- Priyanka Sharma

The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) has raised an alert about falsified versions of Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 Receptor Agonist (GLP-1-RA) products sold at physical outlets and over social media after a warning in this respect from the World Health Organization (WHO) last week.

The drug regulator has advised doctors to prescribe alternatives and inform patients about any likely adverse effects of the drug. It has also advised all state drug regulators to procure samples from the market and initiate necessary action under the provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act.