Overview
- Global health officials report a rapid rise in fake GLP-1 drugs in at least 60 countries, including Mexico, and the national regulator Cofepris has urged people to avoid informal sellers.
- Authorities say some counterfeit lots contained undeclared insulin or showed bacterial contamination, which can cause dangerous hypoglycemia or severe infections.
- High prices for originals in Mexico, typically 3,000–4,000 pesos, have fed a black market where look-alikes sell for 200–500 pesos in online groups, gyms, and tourist zones.
- WHO and Cofepris advise buying only from licensed pharmacies, checking injector pens and labels for poor print or wrong language, confirming Spanish packaging in Mexico, and avoiding social media sales.
- A new Nature study ties two gene variants to how well GLP-1 drugs work and who is more likely to get nausea, bolstering calls for prescription use and regular medical follow-up as experts also warn that cheaper generics could make counterfeits harder to spot.