The Fake Retatrutide Trend: Fake Reta being sold via social media, personal trainers & in nail salons
The weight loss community has been buzzing with excitement about Retatrutide, a promising drug still in clinical trials.
But new weight-loss drug retatrutide has become a headache not only for Eli Lilly, the pharmaceutical company behind it, but for regulators in the UK and around the world.
Reports have revealed a disturbing and growing trend of companies and individuals selling Retatrutide online... the disturbing part? Retatrutide hasn't even finished clinical trials, which is a process whereby the safety, efficacy and side effects of a medication are studied before being authorised for use by humans.
Vials purporting to be "reta" as it's become known, are being sold in the UK in gyms, nail and beauty salons, hairdressers, on social media and even by flower sellers on the street. This revelation raises serious concerns for people eager to try this new treatment and highlights the risks of purchasing unapproved medications.
Young fit patients are coming into hospital with nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, in some cases kidney failure," says endocrinologist, Prof Donal O'Shea.
He says some personal trainers are not only supplying their clients with the drug, they are also injecting them with it.
"The patients have no idea how much they have been taking, or even what they've been injected with."
What Is Retatrutide and Why Is It Important?
Retatrutide is an experimental drug designed to help people lose weight by targeting multiple pathways involved in appetite and metabolism. It is currently undergoing clinical trials to evaluate its safety and effectiveness. Early results from these trials have shown promise, with some participants experiencing significant weight loss. This has generated hope for a new, powerful tool against obesity, a condition affecting millions worldwide.
Despite the excitement, Retatrutide remains an investigational drug. It has not received approval from regulatory agencies such as the FDA or EMA. This means it is not legally available for prescription or sale outside of controlled clinical studies. The drug’s safety profile, optimal dosage, and long-term effects are still being studied.
The Consequences of Fake Retatrutide
Recent investigations have uncovered that multiple companies, as well as individuals like personal trainers and social media influencers, have been selling what they claim to be Retatrutide products directly to consumers. These products are often not genuine Retatrutide but potentially counterfeit or unapproved substances.
The BBC reported that Tom Davies says he nearly ended up in hospital after accidentally overdosing on a fake version of retatrutide. He ordered it from a Chinese supplier after friends at his gym recommended it.
"It was horrendous," says the 20-year-old from Brighton. "My body felt so under pressure, I was so bloated, it was like someone had dropped a 20kg weight on my stomach.
"For 72 hours I had really bad diarrhoea and nausea. I thought, if this continues I'm going to end up in A&E."
Tom later realised he had given himself eight times the recommended dose. Depending on what is ordered, copycat retatrutide can arrive needing to be mixed with sterile, bacteriostatic water which requires various calculations.
Authorities and consumer watchdogs have issued warnings about these activities. The actions of these companies and individuals undermine public trust and put vulnerable individuals at risk.
Eli Lilly has been developing retatrutide for nearly 10 years. It is now fighting to protect its product and curb the illegal sales which are taking place across the world.
It's taking action against peptide companies, influencers, compound pharmacies which manufacture the fake medication, and wellness clinics. It has reported more than 14,000 websites, advertisements and social media posts it says are illegally marketing the medication.
There has been raids on warehouses creating, storing and distributing fake Retatrutide whilst the bank accounts of those involved have been frozen. Only a few days ago, more than £200,000 was frozen under an investigation by the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) - BBC News.
Is Retatrutide Still in Clinical Trials?
Yes, Retatrutide is still in the clinical trial process, which means the full effects of the medication are not yet fully tested and finalised. Clinical trials are essential to ensure any new drug is safe and effective before it reaches the market. Retatrutide is currently in Phase 2 and Phase 3 trials, where researchers test the drug on larger groups of people to confirm earlier findings and monitor side effects.
The process includes:
Dose optimization: Finding the right balance between effectiveness and safety.
Side effect monitoring: Identifying any adverse reactions.
Long-term impact assessment: Understanding how the drug affects users over months or years.
Because these steps take time, Retatrutide is not yet approved for general use. Skipping or rushing this process could lead to serious health risks.
What are the risks of using unapproved Weight Loss Drugs?
People wanting to lose weight may be tempted to buy drugs like Retatrutide from unauthorised sources.
Medicines, including weight-loss drugs, are strictly regulated to ensure they are safe and effective. These jabs are not made in licensed laboratories and therefore the ingredients, sterility, dosage and quality cannot be guaranteed, which is why they are considered illicit. Unknown and untested substances can cause allergic reactions, toxicity, or interactions with other medications.
In the past nine months the MHRA has carried out four raids where thousands of doses of Alluvi weight-loss drugs were uncovered.
Seizures have taken place in two locations in Northampton: a warehouse on an industrial estate and an annexe of the stately home, Moulton Grange.
Further stings have also found black market jabs and production equipment at locations in Sleaford and Grantham, Lincolnshire.
The agency said it is part of an ongoing investigation into an organised criminal network, which it believes is behind the production, distribution and sale of illicit injections. In 2025, 24 million doses of illicit medicines were confiscated, of which weight-loss jabs were less than 1%.
Andy Morling, head of the MHRA's criminal enforcement unit, said the current probe was the first time he had seen suspected criminals "creating their own brand" rather than producing counterfeit versions of existing brands.
Dr Jamie Green, a GP from Delapre Medical Centre in Northampton, thinks cost is a big factor driving people towards illicit medicines.
However, he warned: "The problem with cheap alternatives is that sometimes they will be getting something that's not what it says on the tin."
As well as having no idea what is in the jabs, said Dr Green, "the needles may break or snap in some way. They no duty of care to you. They are just there to make money."
Karen McGonigal, of Salford, Greater Manchester, died in May 2025 after being injected with a weight-loss jab by a beautician. Her daughters spoke to ITV news and met the health secretary, Wes Streeting, about the £20-a-week jab she was given. “If we can stop one person from going through what we’ve been through, at least we’ve done something,” said Abbie McGonigal.
How to ensure you're buying legitimate medications online...
To avoid falling victim to scams involving fake Retatrutide, consider these tips:
Purchase from verified sources: only buy medications from online providers who either are or use registered & regulated pharmacies. The General Pharmaceutical Council legally requires all pharmacies to have a GPhC number, which websites should display so you can ensure they are sourcing the medication from a legitimate UK based pharmacy.
Check approvals: Confirm that the drug is approved by relevant health authorities. In the UK, the MHRA oversees the register of available medications, including the generic name, brand names, available doses and indications for use.
Stay informed: Follow updates from trusted medical and regulatory organisations, such as the MHRA which allows daily or weekly updates on notices regarding medicines and medical products.
What to Expect Next for Retatrutide
Whilst the pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly continue to study Retatrutide, the clinical trials will be the deciding factor of the medication's safety and effectiveness. Regulatory approval could follow in the coming years but until then, Retatrutide remains unavailable for legal public use.
Meanwhile, researchers are exploring other weight loss treatments and lifestyle interventions that have proven benefits. Combining a healthy diet, regular exercise, and medical guidance remains the safest approach for weight management.
Final Thoughts
The latest update on multiple companies and individuals selling Retatrutide highlights the dangers of unregulated drug sales and the importance of medical research. The concern now is that people are selling a medication not yet on the market, rather than different versions of a medication already available, tested & proved to be safe.
Retatrutide shows potential but is still under careful study. People interested in this drug should avoid unauthorised sources and focus on currently available medications, such as Mounjaro & Wegovy, to help lose weight safely.
If you want to stay updated on Retatrutide and other weight loss developments, you can sign up to updates via the MHRA, Eli Lilly or subscribe to our blog. We will continue to post updates as & when they come.
If you have any concerns or wish to discuss the above article, please drop us an email or message via our contact page. You can also submit a report to the MHRA via their Yellow Card scheme.
Disclaimer: This article is for informational purposes only and does not substitute professional medical advice. Always consult a healthcare provider before starting any new treatment.
