Eli Lilly has raised an alert in India after fake versions of its diabetes and weight-loss drug Mounjaro were found being sold illegally.
The warning comes after drug regulators busted a counterfeit racket in Gurugram, where fake injections were seized during a raid. Officials said the products were being distributed outside authorised channels, without proper licences or medical oversight.
In response, the company has urged patients to be extra careful when buying the medicine. It has stressed that Mounjaro should only be purchased from licensed pharmacies and always with a valid prescription. Buying from unknown sources, especially online or through informal sellers, could be risky.
Health experts say the danger with counterfeit drugs is serious. Fake versions may not contain the correct ingredient, tirzepatide, and in some cases could include substances like insulin. For someone not meant to take insulin, this could cause a sudden drop in blood sugar levels, leading to severe health complications.
Authorities estimate that the seized counterfeit drugs were worth several lakhs, pointing to a growing illegal market driven by high demand for weight-loss and diabetes treatments. Investigations are ongoing to understand how widely these fake products may have spread.
To help consumers, Eli Lilly has also shared simple tips to identify genuine products. Patients are advised to check packaging carefully, look for proper labelling and batch numbers, and be cautious if a product is being sold at a much lower price than usual.
The company has emphasised that counterfeit medicines are not made under regulated conditions and may contain unsafe or incorrect ingredients. What makes the issue more concerning is that fake products can look very similar to real ones, making them difficult to spot.
Also Read: Donald Trump warns of 25% tariffs on EU cars
