by Aaron Gulbransen
The supply chain of illicit drugs from outside our country’s borders are threatening the safety and security of communities here in Tennessee and across the country. Along with the threat of scams and predatory marketing targeting innocent consumers – our state and our country are fighting a pernicious threat that combines both – and it could be in your refrigerator or medicine cabinet right now.
Fake weight loss injectables – many of which contain untested substances from China – are the new frontier of dangerous foreign drugs infiltrating our country’s borders. Behind this supply chain is a network of foreign criminals and con artists seeking to hijack the FDA-approved drug market with shady knockoff products. These illicit drugs attempt to mimic brand name pharmaceutical ingredients, like semaglutide and tirzepatide, which are tested, safe, and have changed the lives of millions of Americans.
But don’t be fooled – fake, illicit, or “compounded” GLP-1 drugs are not the same as the real deal. Not only do they lack federal approval to ensure they work, they likely also contain unregulated, untested substances from China. A recent exposé on a fake GLP-1 drug maker which called itself the U.S.’ “largest and most advanced” compounding pharmacy, found that it was using animal-grade Active Pharmaceutical Ingredients (API). That’s right – Tennesseans could be injecting themselves with ingredients meant for animals – not humans. It’s no wonder the FDA has received reports of over 900 adverse events associated with compounded GLP-1s, including at least 17 deaths.
What’s worse, the sales tactics of these bad actors can be just as dirty as their product. If you’ve ever done an internet search for weight-loss solutions, chances are you’ve gotten a social media ad for a telehealth company promising fast results without side effects in the form of a “compounded” GLP-1. A recent peer-reviewed study found that many sellers of fake weight loss drugs failed to clearly state that their drugs are not approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and lack legal disclaimers and safety warnings. Many platforms use high-pressure marketing tactics common in dubious supplement sales — including celebrity endorsements, hard sell discounts, and pages overloaded with testimonials instead of real scientific data.
To make matters worse, consumers are often pushed through minimal or superficial “consultations” that lack the depth expected when prescribing such medications. Parents of Tennessee’s teenagers are rightly horrified when they see compounded GLP-1 ads targeting our minors. One shows a cake that says, “PSA for the girls: you don’t need to be obese to start a GLP-1.” Not only is that false according to the FDA, it’s dangerous.
Thankfully our Tennessee Attorney General Jonathan Skrmetti and our U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn have a message for these bootleg drug suppliers: your days of exploitation are coming to an end. Federal law requires that advertising for drugs be ‘truthful, non-misleading and accurate. Attorney General Skrmetti and U.S. Senator Marsha Blackburn, both stalwart champions for our state, are pressing the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) to investigate the bad actors defrauding and endangering Americans by selling and shipping counterfeit or deceptively-marketed GLP-1 drugs and active ingredients. Senator Blackburn and Attorney General Skrmetti aren’t alone in their concern. Earlier this year, Attorney General Skrmetti was part of a bipartisan group of 38 Attorneys General from around the country the urged the FDA to exercise its authority through investigations, inspections, and enforcement actions to crack down on the bad actors undermining America’s drug supply chain.
Compounded GLP-1s made with unverified ingredients are illegal and dangerous. Period. If we are going to protect law-abiding Americans from foreign threats, then the FTC and FDA must investigate these companies preying on American consumers and get these fake drugs out of the hands of Tennessee patients. These compounders hide behind the guise of “patient care” while peddling their dangerous knockoffs to unsuspecting Americans who deserve better.
Under President Trump’s leadership, America is rightfully cracking down on open borders and the importation of illicit goods. We should be doing the same for fake anti-obesity medications coming from China and other dangerous places. We must act before one more life is taken.
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Aaron Gulbransen serves as CEO of the The Tennessee Conservatives Coalition.
GLP-1 stands for glucagon-like peptide-1. It is a hormone naturally produced in the intestines that helps regulate blood sugar levels, appetite, and digestion