The Trump administration is being prodded to take strong action against fake diabetes medications that have become readily available to U.S. consumers.
The drugs, called “GLP-1” medications, were highlighted by the National Association of Attorneys General in February in a statement calling on the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to take action. “These medications,” wrote the AGs, “which are in high demand for weight loss and diabetes management, have become targets for bad actors seeking to profit from supply shortages and high costs.”
But the situation is getting worse, not better, according to Reps. Brad Knott (R) and Deborah Ross (D) of North Carolina. The Hill reported they have jointly sent a letter to three Trump administration department leaders asking for a boost in enforcement.
The lawmakers told Attorney General Pam Bondi, Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem and FDA Commissioner Marty Makary that they needed to step it up against the sale of “counterfeit, research-grade and illegal copycats” of several GLP-1 class drugs.
The Mayo Clinic describes the class of the real medications as “medicines that lower blood sugar and also may lead to weight loss.”
The FBI recognized the danger of the counterfeit meds based on its posted warning in February that cautioned consumers about “noncompliant healthcare providers, to include pharmacies, weight loss clinics, and medical spas, engaging in fraudulent compounding practices by unlawfully misrepresenting compounded weight loss drugs.” The FBI said potential medical complications ranged from gastro issues to death.
Representatives Knott and Ross told the department leaders that there are too many cases of resulting health complications from people taking the copycat versions for them not to use the full authority of their positions to stop the illicit medication sales in the U.S.
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