ANSM warns of the dangers of fake anti-obesity drugs sold on the Internet and takes legal action

The French Medicines Safety Agency (ANSM) announced on Thursday, September 11, that it has taken legal action to put an end to the illegal sale and advertising on the internet of products presented as anti-obesity treatments (aGLP-1), which are very popular on social networks.

"The unauthorized sale and promotion of aGLP-1 medications on the internet is illegal. The products sold may be counterfeit and endanger the health of those who use them," the health agency warns, adding that this illicit trade phenomenon affects the whole of Europe.

These drugs, indicated for the treatment of diabetes and/or obesity, marketed under the names Ozempic or Wegovy (active substance: semaglutide), Saxenda or Victoza (liraglutide), Trulicity (dulaglutide) or Mounjaro (tirzepatide), are sold on prescription.

However, in France, only over-the-counter medications can be sold online, and only by authorized pharmacies. Only 838 French pharmacies are listed as having an online sales activity for prescription-only medications. GLP-1 medications are legally sold only in the form of injection pens but circulate online in various forms, including patches.

"In order to put an end to these illegal sales activities, the ANSM contacted the public prosecutor in April 2025" and "made around twenty reports against around ten merchant sites" on the Pharos portal of the Ministry of the Interior, which allows illegal content to be reported on the internet, according to the press release.

The court has been asked to "take legal action against the sites that carry out online sales activities, particularly for the illegal practice of pharmacy, as well as for the fraudulent use of the ANSM logo," and to punish the dissemination in France of unauthorized advertising to the general public for these medicines, the agency specifies.

"At the same time, health police measures aimed at banning advertising and any form of online sales of the products in question are underway with around ten online sales platforms," ​​the drug watchdog added, without naming them. E-commerce has led to a proliferation of unregulated sites, thus facilitating the development of a global market for illicit drugs.