Investigate GLP-1 Online Marketing: Blackburn
Sen. Marsha Blackburn (R-TN) and Tennessee attorney general Jonathan Skrmetti are calling on the Federal Trade Commission to investigate what they say are “shady online marketing practices of GLP-1 receptor agonists.” In a 7/17 letter, Blackburn and Skrmetti say the drugs, which are promoted as alternatives to FDA-approved drugs such as Ozempic and Wegovy, “are being advertised in ways that mislead consumers and undermine both public health and the integrity of the pharmaceutical marketplace.”
The letter says that many of the sellers advertise directly to consumers on social media, claiming that their products are an easier and more affordable way to obtain GLP-1 drugs. Blackburn and Skrmetti cite a recent JAMA Health Forum analysis that found that most Web sites did not disclose that compounded GLP-1 receptor agonists were not FDA approved and some even suggested they were approved. They say many of the Web sites provided limited safety information and unauthorized efficacy claims, while some of the sites did not disclose that the drugs were compounded or incorrectly referred to them as generics.
“These illicit activities have already resulted in severe harm to unsuspecting users,” the letter says. “To date, there have been over 900 adverse events associated with compounded versions of the two leading therapies in this class …, including at least 17 deaths.”
The two officials say the FTC should initiate a formal investigation into the advertising practices of companies marketing GLP-1 drugs, whether compounded, counterfeit, or otherwise misrepresented, and consider enforcement actions where warranted. They also encourage FTC to work closely with FDA to issue clear guidance on the marketing of compounded drugs, particularly those marketed as substitutes for regulated medications.
“The risks to consumers are real and growing,” Blackburn and Skrmetti conclude. “As an elected representative of the people of Tennessee and the state’s chief legal officer, we know that deceptive marketing practices like these undermine consumer trust and put people at serious risk. Swift action will help protect public health and reaffirm the commission’s role in ensuring ‘truthful, non-misleading, and accurate’ advertising of sensitive products consumers are putting into their bodies.”