GENEVA, Aug. 26 (Xinhua) -- Swissmedic, Switzerland's authority responsible for the authorization and supervision of therapeutic products, on Tuesday urged the public to be cautious about exaggerated promotions on social media, websites or direct advertising for counterfeit, misleading or unauthorized weight loss products claiming to contain GLP-1 active substances.
Such products could pose significant health risks, the agency warned.
Swissmedic said the products are often packaged with logos of regulatory authorities such as Swissmedic in Switzerland, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), or Germany's Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices (BfArM), along with other "imaginary certifications." Despite these claims, there is no evidence of medical efficacy, particularly for weight loss, and consumers are deliberately misled, it noted.
The agency stressed that GLP-1 receptor agonists, often falsely claimed to be present in such products, are available only by prescription and must be used under medical supervision. Without proper oversight, they can pose serious health risks. The dangers are especially high with unauthorized or counterfeit medicines, which may contain undeclared ingredients, impurities or incorrect dosages.
Swissmedic added that some products marketed online as being made exclusively from natural ingredients were found to contain the prescription drug semaglutide, which can only be used under medical supervision. ■
