ASEM warns counterfeit medicines are putting U.S. consumers at risk

Americans for Safe and Effective Medicines says fake and illicit drugs are showing up more often through online sellers, telehealth platforms and medical spas. The group is urging patients to use licensed pharmacies and be cautious with unapproved weight-loss products and “research-grade” medications.

Why it matters: - Counterfeit and illicit medicines can contain contaminants, the wrong ingredient, the wrong dose or no active ingredient at all. - Those risks can lead to serious adverse events or death. - ASEM says the problem is reaching more U.S. consumers through channels that can look legitimate.

What happened: - Americans for Safe and Effective Medicines warned that one in five Americans has been deceived into buying counterfeit medication. - Fred Mills, Jr., ASEM’s chief policy officer and a compounding pharmacist, said fake and knockoff medications can create serious health risks. - ASEM highlighted counterfeit versions of familiar drugs, mass-compounded GLP-1s and unapproved weight-loss products. - The group also flagged retatrutide, an investigational weight-loss drug still in clinical trials that has not been approved by the FDA and cannot legally be sold.

The details: - Consumers are encountering prescription drugs through unverified online sellers, telehealth platforms, wellness clinics and medical spas. - Counterfeit medicines can look nearly identical to legitimate products, which makes visual inspection unreliable. - Products marketed as “research-grade” can create a false sense of safety. - Mills said consumers should fill prescriptions through licensed pharmacies and avoid sellers that do not require valid prescriptions. - Mills also advised consumers to be skeptical of products promising dramatic results. - Consumers with questions about a medication can consult a pharmacist or healthcare provider. - ASEM directs consumers to more information about counterfeit medicines and how to spot dangerous products.

Between the lines: - The warning reflects a broader shift in how drugs reach patients, with more sales happening outside traditional pharmacy channels. - The rise of online and clinic-based access can make it harder for consumers to tell approved medications from counterfeit or unapproved products. - Weight-loss drugs are a particularly high-risk category because demand is strong and counterfeiters can exploit that demand.

What's next: - ASEM is pushing public awareness of counterfeit medicines and illicit weight-loss products. - Consumers are likely to face continued exposure to suspicious offerings across digital platforms and in-person wellness settings. - Patient questions about product authenticity may increasingly need pharmacist or clinician review.

The bottom line: - If a medication is sold outside a licensed pharmacy or sounds too good to be true, ASEM says consumers should treat it as a red flag.