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The Guardian - UK

Business

Sarah Marsh Guardian consumer affairs correspondent

TikTok influencers fuelling parallel market for unlicensed weight-loss drug

TikTok Telegram WhatsApp Eli Lilly United Kingdom

A medical syringe is held aloft with the person thumb on the plunger against a black background — Doctors and pharmacists have warned that sale of what is an unlicensed drug could result in users injecting counterfeit products. Photograph: Andrew Matthews/PA

An online parallel market for an unlicensed weight-loss drug is being fuelled by TikTok fitness influencers and sellers on WhatsApp, a Guardian investigation can reveal.

Retatrutide, which is still in clinical trials, is being advertised by social media influencers for its supposed fat-burning effects. Followers are urged to message the accounts privately for supplier links, as well as being provided with discount codes.

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