The HPRA recently issued a warning to only source GLP-1 medicines, including semaglutide, liraglutide and tirzepatide, from a registered pharmacy using a valid prescription. The HPRA has detained some 1,401 units of illegal GLP-1 products in 2024 to date. This compares to a total of 568 units in 2023 and 40 units in 2022. The HPRA states that there can be no guarantees as to what substances these online products actually contain and taking them poses a significant risk to consumers’ health.
Products detained come in various forms including tablets and pens presented as both branded and generic versions. A large quantity of vials containing powder or liquid have also been detained, some of which were found in non-healthcare settings such as those offering beauty and cosmetic treatments. The warning relates to GLP-1 medicines that include semaglutide products, such as OzempicTM, RybelsusTM and WegovyTM, liraglutide products such as SaxendaTM and VictozaTM, and the tirzepatide product, MounjaroTM.
As part of its cyber enforcement activities, the HPRA routinely monitors and takes action against online sites connected to the advertising, sale and/or supply of prescription medicines into Ireland. In 2023, 172 URLs linked to GLP-1 products were removed or amended. These included e-commerce listings, social media profiles/pages and websites. This has more than doubled in 2024 (up to the end of October) with a further 431 URLs takedowns and amendments actioned to date. The HPRA also carries out regular visits to non-healthcare settings such as those offering beauty and cosmetic treatments. In recent months, unannounced visits to such settings have resulted in detentions of illegal GLP-1 type products typically presented as weight loss aids. Some of these detentions, consisting of a white powder in a vial, bear no resemblance to any authorised version of these medicines.
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