HPRA involved by promotions for ‘made in Eire’ weight problems drugs wrongly claiming to be accredited by charities, hospitals and healthcare professionals
Round 8,000 unlawful medicines claiming to be weight problems medicine have been seized by Irish well being officers this month alone – greater than 4 instances the quantity confiscated in the entire of final yr.
The well being regulator stated that many of those medicines are purporting to be microneedle patches containing semaglutide or tirzepatide, the lively substances usually present in GLP-1 medicines for weight problems or diabetes. No such medicines presently available on the market are produced within the type of microneedle patches.
The figures come after the officers warn of a surge in internet marketing selling unlawful medicines, with many together with false endorsements from respected our bodies, well being regulators right here have warned.
The Well being Merchandise Regulatory Authority (HPRA) stated it has recognized a big improve in current weeks of on-line content material making false claims while selling medicines, medical units and cosmetics.
It’s particularly highlighting a brand new improvement the place doubtful websites and social media posts are utilizing the HPRA brand to wrongly declare featured merchandise are ‘endorsed’ by the regulator. Comparable our bodies in different nations are additionally being focused.
The web sites, that are hosted outdoors of Eire by the e-commerce platform Shopify, are being instantly promoted to customers by way of faux Fb profiles and adverts. Thus far this month, 155 Shopify product listings, 124 Fb profiles and 414 Fb ads have been recognized making false claims with many additionally fraudulently stating that the product or model is endorsed by the HPRA.
“The unacceptable use of the HPRA brand and identify on this manner is clearly designed to deceive and mislead customers,” an announcement from the organisation stated.
The HPRA is urging members of the general public to not purchase such merchandise on-line as they’re prone to be from untrustworthy suppliers each engaged in unlawful promoting and providing faux or unauthorised merchandise that might pose a well being threat.
“Because the impartial regulator, the HPRA won’t ever endorse or promote any particular well being product or model.”
The HPRA has suggested Shopify and Fb’s guardian firm Meta of this fraudulent exercise and of the general public well being dangers related to unlawful prescription medicines and different unregulated well being merchandise offered on-line. It has requested Shopify and Meta to intercede to proactively establish and take away product listings, faux profiles and adverts from their platforms.
HPRA director of compliance Grainne Energy
“We all know that lots of people are being duped into buying faux and unlawful merchandise by way of these websites,” stated HPRA director of compliance Grainne Energy.
“Working with Income’s customs service, we have now detained a big variety of merchandise at level of entry to the nation. A variety of these purport to be real prescription medicines when the truth is the merchandise as introduced don’t exist as an authorised product in any market.
Specifically she referred to merchandise marketed as microneedle patches being made in Eire that include the weight problems drugs semaglutide or tirzepatide.
“Along with references to the HPRA, there are additionally claims these merchandise are endorsed nationally by charities, hospitals and particular person healthcare professionals. All these claims are unfaithful. Microneedle patches containing semaglutide, tirzepatide or any GLP-1 sort drugs aren’t out there as accredited medical therapies,” she stated.
“The important thing message we’re highlighting at the moment is that the HPRA by no means endorses particular person manufacturers nor can we enable our brand for use within the promotion of well being merchandise.
“Our recommendation to customers is that if on-line sources characteristic a HPRA brand or recommend a HPRA endorsement, then that is truly a transparent signal you’re participating with a doubtful website and vendor. At greatest you’re losing your cash with these on-line scams however at worst you would be severely endangering your well being.
“We’re advising that in terms of prescription medicines, be sure that the product is prescribed by a healthcare skilled and sourced from an area pharmacy. All medicines, medical units and cosmetics ought to be bought by means of reliable, dependable and recognised sources.”
Final yr 2,553 web sites, e-commerce listings and/or social media pages had been amended or shut down for faux or unlawful well being product promotion.
