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Time of India
2 hours ago
- Health
- Time of India
Fake medication is a problem across the world Matthew Ward Agius
Representative image Amid rising demand for popular medications, experts and industry groups are concerned regulators may not be able to keep pace with the speed of counterfeiters. "A doctor simply writes down the prescription. They don't care where the patient buys the drug," said Saifuddin Ahmed, a public health practitioner and epidemiologist at Johns Hopkins University in the US. "It is critically important that a health care provider should be engaged. The [regulators are] not enough," Ahmed told DW. Nowhere else is the challenge more obvious than with the huge demand for products like Wegovy and Zepbound. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like What Happens When You Massage Baking Soda Into Your Scalp Read More Undo They contain active compounds called semaglutide or tirzepatide, which were originally designed to treat type 2 diabetes. But these drugs were found to have a side effect that triggered substantial, sustained weight loss. Demand rose from people wanting to lose weight, and that caused a shortage. Fakes have filled the gap. Fake drugs are a global problem Drug counterfeiting is a major global problem . The World Health Organisation (WHO) estimates that one in 10 pharmaceuticals are fakes that carry no guarantee of any health benefits. While this is mainly a problem in low-and-middle income countries, especially parts of Africa and Asia, around 1% of people in high-income nations also obtain medication from unregulated sources. In some cases, these drugs may have no effect. In other cases, however, ingredients in the fake medication may lead to adverse reactions or create new health problems. "Purchasing medicine online from unregulated, unlicensed sources can expose patients to potentially unsafe products that have not undergone appropriate evaluation or approval, or do not meet quality standards," said the US regulator, the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) in 2023, when it issued its first warnings about the problem. In 2024, the WHO issued a global warning that batches of fake Ozempic were flooding the black market. More recently, in July 2025, data from the UK National Pharmacy Association found one in five Britons had attempted to obtain weight loss treatments in the previous year. It warned that the high demand for these medicines carried the risk that people would "resort to unregulated online suppliers instead of regulated pharmacies." Where are people buying counterfeit medicine? Unregulated pharmaceuticals are being sold via online-only pharmacies, international drug shopping and organised criminal distributors. These digital marketplaces are not online stores for established pharmacies, but sites that seemingly offer medicine at a fraction of the usual cost. The drugs may look identical to genuine medicines online, but when delivered often have spelling errors on the packet or incorrect ingredient listings. But it's not only fake drugs or placebos. Regulators have raised concern about compounding, where medicines that have been approved individually can be formulated to produce non-regulated "compounds" for individual patients. In some regions of the world, including the US, trained pharmacists are allowed to compound medicines, but even then, the practice is less regulated than the stringent approvals that drug manufacturers must meet to bring their products to market. For example, when the FDA temporarily allowed the compounding of weight loss drugs to address a product shortage, some pharmacists used semaglutide salts — which are not approved by regulators — instead of semaglutide itself. This led to reports of side effects. And it wasn't just trained compounding pharmacies that were formulating these products in the US. Ahmed said, "this is done in [places] like gymnasiums and spas." The FDA has now stopped allowing compounded versions of these weight loss drugs, but it is concerned that unregulated online pharmacies are still making substandard products available. Raising awareness about fake drugs To address concerns that consumers may seek unsafe products from unregulated sources, the FDA operates a campaign called BeSafeRx that provides guidance for consumers to identify genuine pharmaceuticals. In the European Union, safety features on medicines are mandated, and include standardized labeling practices. In a statement provided to DW, the European Medicines Agency said "patients should only use online retailers registered with the national competent authorities in the EU Member States, to reduce the risk of buying substandard or falsified medicines." Europol, which is responsible for law enforcement for pharmaceutical crime across member states, has coordinated regular actions across the bloc in collaboration with US and Colombian partners. In a 2023 operation, more than 1,284 people were charged for offenses related to the trafficking of counterfeit and misused medicines and doping substances. As well as local awareness campaigns and enforcement initiatives, the key measure, Ahmed said, was to help improve awareness between patients and their health practitioners. Ahmed heads the Johns Hopkins University's BESAFE initiative, which investigates risks and interventions to prevent the uptake of substandard and counterfeit medication. Surveys undertaken by BESAFE have found that within the US and South Africa, awareness of where to safely buy prescriptions and report fakes or adverse events is low. He said building trust between consumers, medical practitioners and regulators may help avoid the risks of counterfeit and unregulated drug purchases.
Yahoo
4 hours ago
- Health
- Yahoo
First they took a GLP-1. Then they got the 'meat ick.'
It's hard to meet your protein goals when you suddenly can't stand a bite of chicken or steak. Merris Taylor has never loved a fatty ribeye or New York Strip steak. She prefers leaner cuts. But that preference morphed into a downright disgust after Taylor started taking Zepbound, a powerful GLP-1 weight loss medication. 'If I get a weird piece of meat in my mouth — whether it has a weird texture or fat in it — I'm like, 'oh, no,'' the dietitian tells Yahoo. 'That just turns your stomach,' she adds. This sudden loss of appetite for meat is not uncommon among people taking GLP-1s. They call it the 'meat ick.' If you're not on a weight loss medication, maybe you've felt a version of the meat ick if you've taken a first bite of salmon and it tasted too fishy, or you've cooked up some chicken that still tastes suspiciously gamey. But for some people taking injection weight loss drugs such as Zepbound and Wegovy, even the freshest chicken, pork, steak or salmon can lose its appeal. Researchers, patients and prescribers of GLP-1 medications are discovering that the drugs can significantly change people's tastes in food. And losing a taste for meat is especially concerning for people on these medications because they need to consume plenty of protein to prevent muscle loss and reduce side effects. So what's going on, and can a case of the meat ick be cured? Here's what we learned. What is the 'meat ick' and why do people get it on GLP-1s? The meat ick is just a more relatable version of a more technical term called food aversion. It's a phenomenon that's probably most familiar to people who have been pregnant and experienced the dreaded morning sickness along with appetite changes that can leave them hating their favorite foods. Food aversion can come with or without nausea and has a number of potential causes, ranging from hormonal changes, such as those in pregnancy, to certain illnesses and even mental health issues like depression or anxiety. Medications, including antibiotics and omeprazole — a common acid reflux treatment — can also cause food aversion. So the effects of blockbuster GLP-1 drugs aren't totally unprecedented. But something new is going on with these particular types of medications. Older diabetes medications that are also considered GLP-1s — including Victoza and Saxenda — have been around for more than a decade. 'What's very strange is that really nobody ever reported this meat ick thing to us [while taking these drugs],' Tiffany Bailey, a physician's assistant who makes educational content about GLP-1s on social media, tells Yahoo. 'What I found strange is that we started seeing this phenomenon when we started using GLP-1s for weight loss,' rather than to treat diabetes, she adds. There isn't much research on the meat ick or other food aversions triggered by GLP-1s — Bailey notes that it was never mentioned to her or her colleagues when they were learning how to prescribe and manage side effects — but there are some sensible theories. For one, Bailey suspects that the reason people are getting the meat ick while on, for example, Mounjaro, but not Saxenda, is that versions of drugs designed for weight loss are usually higher doses than the same medication formulated for diabetes treatment. That likely means the side effects of the weight loss versions will be stronger. Second, these drugs help people lose weight by slowing down gastric emptying, or the process of digestion. So after someone taking a GLP-1 eats, 'food just sits there longer,' helping them to feel fuller faster, explains Bailey. Heavy, dense foods, including meat and other proteins, already take longer to digest. But if they sit in your gut for too long, they can trigger nausea, a biological response designed to tell us Slow down, I've had enough and can't handle more right now! Your digestive system 'registers that you ate this, and it sat there and made you nauseous, so it will subconsciously tell your brain, 'This is bad.'' So your brain gets conditioned when it tastes, smells or in some cases even sees that food to think: nausea. It's not just meat Bailey estimates that between 10% and 15% of her GLP-1 patients with food aversions get the meat ick, specifically. But she says as many as 70% of people taking the injections develop some kind of food aversion. The most common culprit? Coffee, 'even if they used to live for their coffee,' says Bailey. Too much caffeine from coffee can cause nausea, queasiness or stomach upset, which might partially explain the phenomenon. But Bailey says that coffee simply tastes bad to many of her patients. Plenty of GLP-1 users have reported the same breakup with their morning joe on social media. One possible explanation is that both caffeine and GLP-1s interact with dopamine, our reward chemical, in the brain. GLP-1s can make those once-rewarding food and drinks (and, researchers think, drugs and alcohol too) less so, which may explain why coffee and caffeine aren't so appealing to those taking the drugs, Bailey suggests. Eggs are probably the second most commonly-reported 'ick' in Bailey's family medicine practice. And they're now 32-year-old Courtney Kline's biggest turn-off. Since starting to take a GLP-1, 'I've tried every which way to cook them or put them in something,' but to no avail, she tells Yahoo. 'I've always loved eggs, but the second I started on a GLP-1 I [tried to make] some eggs, liquid egg whites and spinach, and I felt like vomiting,' she says. Her egg reaction takes one easy way to cook and consume protein off the menu. But for others with the meat ick, including Taylor, eggs are a solution. While scrambled eggs are 'no-go' for her, boiled eggs are a great go-to source of protein, along with softer meats that are made in the crock pot, added to soup or in spaghetti sauce. Cassandra Smith has the opposite problem. A day or so after the 30-year-old middle school English teacher and mother took her first injection of compounded tirzepatide, Smith had plans to go to Olive Garden with her coworkers. Smith ordered her usual: cheese ravioli with red meat sauce, topped with a layer of Parmesan. 'When I got it, I was like, eww,' she tells Yahoo. 'I was like, 'I just can't eat this — this is disgusting.' The dish didn't smell off or look off, but 'it was like my brain just said, 'You're not eating that,' says Smith. 'It's weird, I can't really explain it.' Her best guess is simply that her brain and body have learned that all of that heavy food — the red meat, the carbs and the cheese — didn't sit well with her anymore. (Dairy, notes Bailey, also comes up as a GLP-1 ick.) Why the ick isn't all bad — and how to cope with it There's an upside to these icks, however. Smith no longer has any desire for some of the rich foods she once enjoyed. Instead, 'my cravings are completely different now. I crave salmon and brussels sprouts, and I'm wondering, 'What restaurant has the best broccoli?'' she says. 'I'm like, who craves broccoli? But my whole palate has changed.' That's been hugely helpful to Smith. She used to love steak, but had to stop eating it because it caused flare-ups of her rheumatoid arthritis. Since starting on a GLP-1 Smith has been able to stop taking her arthritis medications under the guidance of her doctor, 'and these are medications that people never come off of,' she says. Now she's discovered a love of salmon, a healthy, nutrient-packed source of protein and good-for-you fats. Smith avoids any highly processed 'manmade' foods, she says, opting instead for whole foods — and teaching her 4-year-old daughter to do the same. It's a common, positive effect of being on these weight loss medications, Bailey says. 'Studies show that people choose a lot lighter foods in general after being put on a GLP-1,' she says, referring to a shift away from high-sugar foods and unhealthy fats found in ultra-processed foods. That's good for weight loss and improving health metrics like cholesterol, blood pressure and blood sugar. But this dietary change does present a problem: consuming enough protein. Fatty fish like salmon and tuna are great sources of protein, but Bailey says some of her GLP-1 patients can't tolerate even this good fat. So how can you hit your protein goals if you're on a weight loss medication? Lean options like grilled chicken or turkey are less likely to trigger the ick, say both Bailey and Taylor. And, when in doubt, you might just have to hide the meat a little. Taylor and Bailey suggest going for lightly breaded chicken. Try cooking it in an air fryer or baking it in the oven, rather than deep-frying it, which bathes the chicken in fatty oil — or else you might find yourself right back in the ick. Solve the daily Crossword
News18
11 hours ago
- Health
- News18
Weight Loss Drug Mounjaro May Help Diabetics Live Longer, Protect The Heart & Kidneys: Eli Lilly
Last Updated: The trial included over 13,000 people across 30 countries and ran for more than 4.5 years, making it the largest and longest study on tirzepatide so far, the company said In a major development that could shift the way obesity is treated globally, Eli Lilly's weight loss and type 2 diabetes drug tirzepatide, sold as the brands Mounjaro and Zepbound, has been shown to significantly reduce the risk of serious cardiovascular complications, including heart failure and chronic kidney disease. Eli Lilly on Thursday announced results from SURPASS-CVOT, a first-of-its-kind head-to-head Phase 3 cardiovascular outcomes trial comparing two incretin therapies—Mounjaro and Trulicity—in adults with type 2 diabetes and established atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. Trulicity—made by Lilly—is not insulin, but it helps the body release insulin more effectively after meals. About tirzepatide Tirzepatide works by mimicking two gut hormones—GIP and GLP-1—that regulate appetite, insulin response, and energy use. This dual-action mechanism sets it apart from earlier drugs and is believed to drive both its weight loss and cardiometabolic benefits. In the SURPASS-CVOT study, Mounjaro (tirzepatide) was shown to be as safe as Trulicity in preventing serious heart issues like heart attack, stroke, or heart-related death. While not the focus of the study, Mounjaro also showed better results in lowering blood sugar (A1C), reducing weight, improving kidney function, and lowering overall death risk. The trial included over 13,000 people across 30 countries and ran for more than 4.5 years, making it the largest and longest study on tirzepatide so far, the company claimed. These results hold significance for India, as the American pharma giant launched the drug here on March 20, and since then, the drug has seen rapid uptake. In just three months, sales soared to Rs 12.6 crore in May, tripling from March, according to Pharmatrac data. Priced at Rs 4,375 (5 mg) and Rs 3,500 (2.5 mg) per vial, Mounjaro's monthly cost ranges from Rs 14,000-17,500, nearly 80% cheaper than US prices. While the results from the trial are promising, detailed results for SURPASS-CVOT will be presented at the European Association for the Study of Diabetes (EASD) Annual Meeting 2025 in September and published in a peer-reviewed journal. Lilly said it plans to submit the data to global regulatory authorities by the end of this year. 'Cardiovascular disease remains the leading cause of death among people living with type 2 diabetes," Kenneth Custer, executive vice president and president, Lilly Cardiometabolic Health, wrote in the press release issued by the drugmaker. 'The SURPASS-CVOT results show that Mounjaro preserved the cardioprotective benefit of Trulicity, a GLP-1 receptor agonist, while providing additional benefits, including greater kidney protection and a reduced overall risk of death. These findings strengthen the case for Mounjaro as a potential front-line treatment for people with type 2 diabetes and cardiovascular disease." Findings of the study In the trial, the risk of cardiovascular death, heart attack, or stroke was 8% lower for Mounjaro vs Trulicity, meeting the prespecified criteria for non-inferiority. In simple words, Mounjaro reduced the risk of heart-related problems (heart attack, stroke, or heart death) by 8% compared to Trulicity. It also lowered the overall risk of death by 16%. A separate analysis using past trial data suggested Mounjaro may reduce heart risks by 28% and death risk by 39% compared to a theoretical placebo. In people with serious kidney problems, Mounjaro slowed kidney decline more effectively than Trulicity over three years. In the trial, Mounjaro helped patients improve their blood sugar (A1C), lose more weight, and showed better heart-related health markers like cholesterol and blood pressure compared to Trulicity. Both medicines had similar safety profiles. The most common side effects were stomach-related issues like nausea or diarrhoea, which were mostly mild and got better over time. However, 13.3% of people on Mounjaro stopped treatment due to side effects, compared to 10.2% on Trulicity. Get breaking news, in-depth analysis, and expert perspectives on everything from politics to crime and society. Stay informed with the latest India news only on News18. Download the News18 App to stay updated! view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
USA Today
16 hours ago
- Health
- USA Today
Meet Fatty15, the longevity supplement that might help you age in reverse
Save 20% on the Fatty15 90-day starter kit today and see what all the hype is about. We all age. It is just inevitable and no matter how you perceive aging, finding a healthier and more beneficial way to do it sounds pretty cool. Like, what if we could age smarter? Perhaps reverse? Thanks to cutting-edge science, reversing cellular aging is no longer science fiction. Enter Fatty15, a pure, patented and vegan-friendly supplement powered by C15:0, the first essential fatty acid discovered in over 90 years. And right now, you can save 20% when you subscribe to the 90-Day Starter Kit. Want to know more? Below, we've highlighted everything you ned to know about Fatty15, C15:0 and how you can save on your first purchase. Save 20% at Fatty15 What is Fatty15? Fatty15 is a daily supplement designed to support cellular health and longevity. Its hero ingredient, C15:0 (pentadecanoic acid), has been clinically shown to: In fact, when tested against well-known longevity compounds like rapamycin, metformin, and acarbose, C15:0 outperformed them all, activating more than 36 clinically relevant cellular pathways. C15:0 is a science-backed essential fatty acid that supports your body's 30 trillion cells. It's been shown to activate AMPK and inhibit mTOR, which are two key pathways linked to longevity and healthy aging. That means better protection for your heart, liver, immune system, and more. And unlike typical omega-3s, C15:0 delivers 3 times more cellular benefits, making it a powerful addition to your wellness routine. Buy now: The Longevity Nutrient Book What benefits can you expect? Fatty15 isn't just about long-term health, it delivers real, noticeable results. According to customer feedback, 72% of users report benefits within 16 weeks, including: More: Here are the 10 supplements I take while on my Zepbound weight loss journey Ready to feel the difference? Subscribe to Fatty15's 90-Day Starter Kit and get 20% off your first order. It's a smart investment in your future—and your cells will thank you. Shop Fatty15
Reuters
16 hours ago
- Business
- Reuters
Resmed beats quarterly profit estimates on strong demand for sleep devices
July 31 (Reuters) - Resmed (RMD.N), opens new tab beat Wall Street estimates for fourth-quarter profit on Thursday, driven by strong demand for its devices used to manage sleep apnea. The company makes continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) machines, a non-invasive treatment of sleep apnea, a common disorder in which patients have brief interruptions of breathing during sleep. Resmed's fourth-quarter revenue rose 10% to $1.35 billion, beating analysts' estimates of $1.33 billion, according to data compiled by LSEG. The company posted adjusted profit of $2.55 per share for the quarter ended June 30, compared to estimates of $2.48 per share. Some analysts had expected the U.S. approval of Eli Lilly's (LLY.N), opens new tab blockbuster drug Zepbound to treat sleep apnea would reduce demand for the company's devices. Resmed has shrugged off those concerns, saying it expects consumer wearables tracking sleep health and GLP-1 therapies such as Zepbound will encourage more patients to use its devices.
