[co-author: Stephanie Kozol]*
Connecticut Attorney General (AG) William Tong has taken legal action against two online distributors, Triggered Brand and Made In China, for allegedly selling research-grade GLP-1 weight loss drugs directly to Connecticut consumers without prescriptions or medical oversight. These drugs, marketed as research compounds, lack Food and Drug Administration (FDA) approval for human use. The lawsuit against Triggered Brand alleges violations of the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act (CUTPA) and seeks civil penalties. Additionally, Tong has issued a civil investigative demand to Made In China to gather information regarding its marketing and sales practices.
The Details
The complaint against Triggered Brand and its owner, Samuel Stolt, alleges violations of the CUTPA because defendants are selling untested and unsafe “bootleg” GLP-1 weight loss drugs, exploiting regulatory loopholes by marketing these research compounds directly to consumers without proper FDA approval.
Pharmaceutical companies such as Eli Lilly and Novo Nordisk, manufacturers of FDA-approved, Wegovy and Zepbound, must adhere to FDA regulations ensuring their GLP-1 injections are sterile, pure, and traceable to patients for safety.
In contrast, the AG’s lawsuit alleges the companies are selling raw peptides for research purposes operate without similar standards, as these compounds are not FDA-approved for human or veterinary use.
The complaint against Triggered Brand also raises several concerns about the company’s operations and financial practices. It alleges that the business address provided by Triggered Brand is merely a mailbox rental service, suggesting an effort to conceal the company’s actual location and activities. Furthermore, the defendants are accused of employing a network of interconnected companies, purportedly under the control of Samuel Stolt, to deceive creditors. This network is allegedly designed to obscure financial dealings and mislead those seeking accountability. Additionally, the defendants reportedly limit payment methods to cryptocurrency or peer-to-peer apps, which may be an attempt to circumvent traditional financial scrutiny and oversight.
Furthermore, letters have been sent to Connecticut weight loss clinics, advising against the sale of compounded weight loss drugs not approved by the FDA. The AG emphasizes the importance of obtaining GLP-1 medications through legitimate pharmacies with proper prescriptions to ensure safety and compliance.
Established pharmaceutical companies invest significantly in meeting stringent FDA standards, which not only protect public health but also uphold their reputations. The rise of unregulated entities selling potentially dangerous compounds without oversight threatens to erode consumer trust in legitimate pharmaceutical products.
Why It Matters
The issue of counterfeit GLP-1 drugs has drawn significant attention from state AGs, underscoring its importance in consumer protection and pharmaceutical regulation.
In February, the National Association of Attorneys General, representing a bipartisan coalition of 38 state and territory AGs, urged the FDA to take decisive action against those endangering consumers with counterfeit versions of GLP-1 drugs, including Mounjaro, Zepbound, Ozempic, and Wegovy. These counterfeit drugs, driven by supply shortages and high costs, have infiltrated the U.S. market, posing significant health risks. Originating from countries such as China and India, these counterfeits may contain contaminants or incorrect dosages, leading to severe side effects.
The letter asserts that the FDA has the necessary expertise and resources to curb these deceptive practices and calls for increased enforcement against compounding pharmacies illegally involved in this market. It also encourages collaboration with state pharmacy boards to ensure that compounded GLP-1 drugs are produced safely and in sanitary conditions.
The states will certainly continue to monitor these products in the marketplace and pursue all available remedies for alleged harm to consumers.
*Senior Government Relations Manager
