As weight-loss drugs like GLP-1 receptor agonists explode in popularity, knock-offs of up-and-coming meds are hitting the streets far faster than their legitimate versions can gain regulatory approval.
In recent months, a black market version of the nascent weight-loss drug retatrutide has surged into strip mall health spas and social media marketplaces alike. According to Axios, the drug hasn’t even been submitted to the Food and Drug Administration for review, let alone approved, alarming public health experts around the US.
Developed by the pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly, retatrutide is a triple-hormone-receptor agonist, meaning it activates three metabolic pathways: the well-known GLP-1, as well as two other specialized cell proteins known as GIP and glucagon receptors.
The combination of these three hormones is meant to reduce the patient’s appetite, control the body’s insulin levels, and increase the amount of calories burned.
