Warning over illegal weight loss jabs for sale on TikTok

Sellers who claim to offer the ‘Triple G’ of weight loss drugs have had their accounts shut down after The Independent exposed them to the tech giant.

- By Nicole Wootton-Cane

Health experts have issued a warning over the use of illicit weight-loss jabs after The Independent uncovered drugs that have not yet been approved for use being offered for sale on social media.

Retatrutide, or “Reta”, is manufactured by Eli Lilly, the pharmaceutical giant behind Mounjaro, which tripled in price in the UK last week, prompting many users to seek out cheaper alternatives.

Retatrutide has been dubbed the “Triple G” of weight-loss drugs because of its unique ability to mimic the actions of three different hormones - GLP-1, glucagon and GIP - which are released after eating and work to reduce appetite, help regulate blood sugar levels and support fat loss. Similar drugs on the market, such as Mounjaro, typically target only two receptors.

The injection is not yet approved for human use and is still undergoing clinical trials, but The Independent has uncovered dozens of accounts on TikTok, Instagram, and X purporting to sell it - despite TikTok and Meta saying such activity is banned on their platforms.

The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), which approves and regulates drugs in the UK, and Eli Lilly have warned that such compounds are illegal and could expose users to “dangerous ingredients that can have serious health consequences”.

The regulator has cautioned people not to buy weight-loss jabs from anywhere other than registered pharmacies after a consultation with a qualified doctor or health professional.

Last month, Eli Lilly announced that Mounjaro’s price would rise 170 per cent in the UK, following pressure from President Trump, who said he wanted to bring overseas prices on drugs into line with US costs.