Pharmacies are risking public safety by offering ‘unethical’ promotions for weight-loss jabs, experts say.
The likes of Wegovy, Mounjaro and Ozempic are being sold online with enticements including discount codes, special offers and free delivery, the Mail can reveal.
Advertising prescription-only medications is in breach of both the Medicines and Healthcare Regulatory Authority (MHRA) and Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) rules.
But online pharmacies are free to promote ‘weight loss services’ – including repeat prescriptions of jabs – if they do not mention specific products.
Last night, campaigners urged authorities to close the loophole, warning the weight-loss drugs market is increasing exponentially.
Online pharmacies are risking public safety by offering ‘unethical’ promotions for weight-loss jabs, experts say (file photo)
The likes of Wegovy, Mounjaro and Ozempic (pictured) are being sold online with enticements including discount codes, special offers and free delivery
They accused pharmacies of ‘irresponsibly cashing in’ on the surging popularity of the drugs, which work by simulating hormones that control appetite.
A Mail audit found simple search terms like ‘buy Ozempic’, ‘buy Wegovy’ or ‘weight-loss drugs’ instantly generates pages of ‘sponsored’ adverts from online pharmacies on search engines.
High street giants Boots advertise ’10 per cent off repeat orders – Weight loss service from £48′ while Superdrug had the same discount for new customers with a ‘Save On Your Weight Loss Treatment Code’.
Simple Online Pharmacy says customers can ‘Save 30% – Was £199, Now £139 – Lowest Price Guarantee’ for weight-loss pens and MedExpress has ‘Weight Loss Injections – £149 – New Injection £149 – £40 Off’.
As none reference the specific names of weight loss drugs, they are compliant with MHRA and ASA regulations. (must keep)
Oksana Pyzik, a lecturer at the UCL school of pharmacy, said such promotions were undermining both patient safety and trust.
She said: ‘Pharmacies are highly trusted by the public and online pharmacies advertising access to weight loss jabs at discount is not only harmful to patients but undermines trust of all online healthcare providers.
Campaigners have urged authorities to close the loophole, warning the weight-loss drugs market is increasing exponentially (pictured: Wegovy weight loss drug)
Wegovy and Ozempic work by triggering the body to produce a hormone called GLP-1 that is released naturally from the intestines after meals
‘Swift action is required to nip this viral trend in the bud – compliance with MHRA regulation around advertising of prescription-only medications is mandatory for all pharmacies online or otherwise – public safety depends on it.’
The last 12 months has seen an explosion in injectable weight loss drugs coming online.
Known as GLP-1 receptor agonists, they work by reducing food cravings and cause the stomach to empty more slowly, with reports of patients losing up to a fifth of their body weight.
Ozempic is available on the NHS for the treatment of type 2 diabetes while Wegovy and Mounjaro are intended only for obese patients with a body mass index (BMI) over 30 and 35 respectively.
But there are growing concerns that people are obtaining private prescriptions using online consultations, often without undergoing thorough medical checks.
The trend prompted NHS national medical director, Stephen Powis, to urge the public against using them to get ‘beach body ready’ or to ‘lose a few pounds.’
There are also worries over potential side effects, with links to pancreatitis and gallbladder problems alongside more common ailments such as nausea.
Tam Fry, chairman of the National Obesity Forum, urged people to treat them with caution, adding that long-term effects are not yet known.
He said: ‘It is utterly unethical for pharmacies to be promoting these drugs like this.
‘We still do not know the full effects of them and it feels like as businesses, they are irresponsibly cashing in on people’s insecurities.
‘The rush to lose weight is understandable, but they really are not to be taken without a proper prescription from a GP and then patients are kept under surveillance.’
The anti-obesity medication market is predicted to reach £100 billion by 2030, fuelled by the growing demand in what many see as a quick fix to weight loss.
Despite the regulations, adverts are commonplace on social media with the Advertising Standards Authority (ASA) working with Instagram to remove around 100 adverts a day.
An ASA spokesman said its rules are clear that prescription-only medicines should not be advertised to the public.
He said: ‘These rules encompass all forms of media, including online spaces. Ads can reference consultations on the area of treatment, but only as long as that reference is representative of a licence for that prescription only medicine.’
The General Pharmaceutical Council, which regulates pharmacists, said its guidance to pharmacists includes that ‘special offers on prices of medicines should not be highlighted on the website as they are likely to promote the specific prescription-only medicines’.
Representatives for Boots, Superdrug and Simple Online Pharmacy said they are fully compliant with MHRA guidance and ASA advertising codes.
A Boots spokesman said: ‘All Boots Online Doctor prices are for the full service – from the online consultation to aftercare and support – and not for prescription medicines alone.
‘Weight loss treatment is most effective when used consistently, alongside important lifestyle changes. We offer 10 per cent off the Boots Online Doctor Weight Loss Service for returning patients to encourage them to stay with us to receive continuity of care.’
A Superdrug spokesman said: ‘Our Superdrug Online Doctor advertising is in full compliance with the ASA and MHRA’s specific weight loss service guidelines which allow for advertising of weight loss services, provided no reference is made to any prescription only medication that might be provided as part of the treatment.’
Simple Online Pharmacy said: ‘We take compliance with advertising guidelines very seriously, especially in areas as sensitive as medication.
‘We believe our advertising practices adhere to all relevant regulatory standards and Google Ad policies.’
MedExpress did not respond to requests for a comment.
The MHRA said customers seeking information about a clinic or potential treatments must not be presented with material promoting prescription only medicines but further webpages they choose to access may contain non-promotional information for specific medicines.
Complaints were assessed on a ‘case by case basis’.
A spokesperson said: ‘The MHRA takes concerns about the illegal promotion of prescription weight-loss medicines to the public very seriously.
‘We consider complaints we receive about the alleged advertising of prescription only medicines to the public, looking at each case on its own merits and, where appropriate, working with other regulators to take action.’