Illegal Weight Loss Drugs Sold in UK Expose Regulatory Gaps in Online Reviews

A recent investigation has brought to light the troubling prevalence of illegal weight loss drug sales in the United Kingdom, with certain businesses exploiting online review platforms such as Trustpilot to garner credibility. These operators have collected high ratings on trusted review sites, raising concerns among experts about the potential risks to public health and the limitations of current digital regulatory frameworks.

One such company, Retatrutide UK, achieved a Trustpilot score of 4.4, despite marketing a product that is both experimental and illegal in the UK. The website offers a 20mg retatrutide injection for £132, presenting itself as a legitimate provider in the process. This product, developed by Eli Lilly, is still undergoing clinical trials and has not been licensed for sale. Nonetheless, buyers have left positive reviews praising its delivery and packaging.

Health experts warn that purchasing unlicensed drugs such as retatrutide online entails significant risks. With no oversight to guarantee the correct composition, dosage, or sterilisation, consumers are at risk of serious health complications including infections, hypoglycaemia, pancreatitis, and cardiac issues. These dangers are heightened by the drug’s experimental status and lack of official clinical approval.

Similar questionable operators, such as Alluvi Health Care and entities using the name Retatide, have used favourable Trustpilot reviews to boost their reputations. Alluvi Health Care, subject to a recent raid by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), maintained an AI-enhanced summary suggesting customer satisfaction while allegedly distributing counterfeit products. Another seller, Retatrutide Pens, maintained a 4.7 rating before displaying an immediate closure notice on its site.

The use of social platforms to advertise these substances compounds the problem. TikTok has been used to promote offers on retatrutide and similar drugs, often through coded hashtags to evade detection. In response, TikTok has taken steps to ban related content, yet posts advertising substantial discounts on these drugs have appeared.

Industry specialists and academics have called for stricter oversight and proactive enforcement by regulatory authorities. They highlight the reliance of unscrupulous operators on seemingly legitimate reviews and endorsements to attract vulnerable consumers. The MHRA underscores that public safety remains the priority, and enforcement measures against illegal sellers are ongoing.

Trustpilot, after being notified of the issue, has blocked all businesses named in the investigation and reaffirmed its commitment to improving detection and removal of unethical actors. However, the investigation reveals systemic vulnerabilities in the way high-risk pharmaceutical products are promoted online and the urgent need for robust regulatory reform.