Sony Pixel Power calrec Sony

RT Investigates reveals sale of unapproved US weight loss trial medication exposed in Ireland to be broadcast tonight

09/12/2024

RT Investigates reveals sale of unapproved US weight loss trial medication exposed in Ireland

Secret footage reveals extent of booming black market in prescription weight loss medication

Medical experts warn of serious health risks to the public

Weight loss pens from Turkey, counterfeit Semaglutide pens and unlabelled glass vials openly advertised on social media

Ads targeted to Dublin, Carlow, Wexford, Wicklow, Athlone, Meath, Louth, Galway, Limerick and Northern Ireland

Watch RT Investigates: Black Market Weight Loss, Monday at 9.35pm on RT One & RT Player

Medical experts have warned of significant health risks to members of the public after it has emerged that an experimental weight loss medication, which has no regulatory approval worldwide, is being sold on the Irish black market in a new documentary, RT Investigates: Black Market Weight Loss to air tonight. Weight loss medication has become big business, with demand surging in recent years for a series of injectable pens that can help tackle obesity and diabetes. But with demand rising and supply restricted, a burgeoning black market has grown alongside it.

RT Investigates went undercover to examine how prescription-only weight loss medication is moving through the Irish black market

During investigations related to the illegal sale of weight loss products, RT Investigates discovered and filmed a woman based in Tuam, Co Galway, selling Retatrutide, an experimental medicinal product which is not approved for use anywhere globally, and still in clinical trials in the US. The woman, who is not a qualified doctor, advertises the product as the most powerful weight loss treatment.

RT Investigates arranged to meet the woman advertising the product on social media in her Galway home. On arrival she supplied a package with a clear glass vial and several hypodermic needles, before offering to inject the substance there and then. Having been provided with no manufacturer or product information, RT had the vial's contents independently analysed at a laboratory at University College Dublin with the results indicating it did contain Retatrutide.

In a statement, Eli Lilly, the manufacturer of Retatrutide, told RT Investigates the product has not been reviewed or approved by the US Food and Drug Administration, the European Medicines Agency, or any regulatory agency anywhere in the world and therefore at this time no one can sell it for human use. They stated, Any product falsely representing itself as a Lilly investigational product .like Retatrutide, may expose patients to potentially serious health risks.

Professor Donal O'Shea, consultant endocrinologist and the HSE National Clinical Lead for Obesity told RT , having viewed the undercover footage: That is completely mad. That kind of delivery of a medication to an individual would have you struck off the Medical Council register if you did it once. I can't get my head around that. You were offered a clear injection from an unlabelled bottle, and you weren't told where it was manufactured it doesn't really get any worse than that.

Earlier this year RT Investigates examined the beauty industry and the sale of Botox-type products by people not legally allowed to do so. During that investigation, evidence of another illegal trade alongside it in the industry began to emerge the sale of what sellers online refer to as skinny pens'. These medications are commonly referred to as GLP1s because they mimic a hormone in the body which regulates appetite, thereby reducing hunger and making the user feel full.

During a six-month investigation, RT Investigates found several individuals, who are not doctors, nurses, or pharmacists, selling prescription only weight loss pens and medication directly to the public. In some cases, individuals were offering to inject people with the substances, despite not being qualified to do so. The products included weight loss pens from Turkey, counterfeit Semaglutide pens and unlabelled glass vials containing clear liquid which were provided in packs with hypodermic needles. In most cases the products are openly advertised on social media as skinny pens or skinny jabs .

In one case, RT Investigates discovered a seller based in Dublin, who was advertising not only on her personal social media but also on many buy and sell sites in Dublin, Carlow, Wexford, Wicklow, Athlone, Meath and Louth.

At an undercover meeting she sold a pen which she said she purchased outside the EU . RT later established the woman travels to Turkey and has done so eight times so far and purchases 30-35 pens per trip.

An RT Investigates undercover colleague messaged her, and she responded immediately, saying I have Saxenda injection pens. Same as Ozempic. One pen lasts 18 days and the price is 100 euros. The two agreed to meet in a Dublin shopping centre for the purchase. It would be one of many RT Investigates filmed over several months. During the exchange, the seller explained that she buys the pens outside the European Union. When our colleague asked about possible side effects from using the medication, she was told it's just like taking paracetamol. They're very safe.

These medications are safe in high, high risk people, says Prof Donal O'Shea about weight loss drugs generally. He says they are prescription only for good reason. They have side effects and those side effects are nausea, vomiting, [but] you can get inflammation of your pancreas, pancreatitis. I've had two patients end up in intensive care based on kidney failure after starting these treatments, he said.

Pharmacist, and former president of the Irish Pharmacy Union, Kathy Maher, told RT Investigates there would be increased risks to the user of such products related to how it was transported. To transport medicin
LINK: https://about.rte.ie/2024/12/09/rte-investigates-reveals-sale-of-unapp...
See more stories from rte

Most recent headlines

05/01/2027

Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be demoed at CES 2026

Worlds first 802.15.4ab-UWB chip verified by Calterah and Rohde & Schwarz to be ...

01/06/2026

Dolby Sets the New Standard for Premium Entertainment at CES 2026

January 6 2026, 05:30 (PST) Dolby Sets the New Standard for Premium Entertainment at CES 2026 Throughout the week, Dolby brings to life the latest innovatio...

02/05/2026

Dalet Flex LTS Delivers Smarter Search, Faster Editing, and an AI-Ready Foundation for Modern Media

Dalet, a leading technology and service provider for media-rich organizations, t...

01/05/2026

NBCUniversal's Peacock to Be First Streamer to Integrate Dolby's Full Suite of Premium Picture and Sound Innovations

January 5 2026, 18:30 (PST) NBCUniversal's Peacock to Be First Streamer to ...

01/04/2026

DOLBY AND DOUYIN EMPOWER THE NEXT GENERATON OF CREATORS WITH DOLBY VISION

January 4 2026, 18:00 (PST) DOLBY AND DOUYIN EMPOWER THE NEXT GENERATON OF CREATORS WITH DOLBY VISION Douyin Users Can Now Create And Share Videos With Stun...

27/03/2026

SVG GameDay, Ep. 9: Chicago Cubs' Chris Simonson - Flying the W at Wrigley Field

In-venue and creative video staffers at the professional and collegiate level ha...

27/03/2026

Comcast Business Powers 2026 THE PLAYERS Championship Network and Broadcast Infrastructure

Comcast Business deployed network infrastructure for the 2026 PLAYERS Championsh...

27/03/2026

CS live Equips New OB Van With Riedel MediorNet, hi Control System, and Artist Intercom

Czech production company CS live has equipped its newest outside broadcast van w...

27/03/2026

Edith Cowan University Installs Lawo VSM, HOME, and mc36 in New Broadcast Facility

Edith Cowan University (ECU) in Perth, Western Australia has developed new broad...

27/03/2026

Deltatre Appoints Marc Watson as CEO; Andrea Marini Transitions to Deputy Chairman

Deltatre has announced that CEO Andrea Marini will step down after five years in...

27/03/2026

DAZN to Launch Inflight and Onboard Live Sports Service in 2027

DAZN has announced plans to launch DAZN Inflight, a live sports service for airline and maritime passengers, slated for 2027. Aviv Giladi, President of DAZN Par...

27/03/2026

Grass Valley and NVP Deploy Camera Systems for LALIGA Broadcast Production

Grass Valley has announced the completion of a live production deployment with NVP, a European media company specializing in live sports production, for LALIGA ...

27/03/2026

The Masters, Prime Video Will Debut Inside Amen Corner' Stat-Enhanced Viewing Experience

The Masters and Prime Video will debut Inside Amen Corner, a dedicated feed that...

27/03/2026

ESPN and World Series of Poker Reach Multi-Year Agreement

ESPN and the World Series of Poker (WSOP) have reached a multi-year agreement to bring the WSOP Main Event back to ESPN platforms. Coverage will include a three...

27/03/2026

USSI Global Opens Media Transport Solutions Lab Ahead of C-Band Transition

USSI Global has opened its Media Transport Solutions Lab on its Melbourne campus. The engineering center provides a platform-agnostic environment for testing al...

27/03/2026

UFL Names Sportable Official Connected Ball and Player Tracking Partner

The United Football League (UFL) has named Sportable its Official Connected Ball and Player Tracking Partner. Sportable's connected football and wearable pl...

27/03/2026

Atlanta Braves and Fubo Reach Multiyear Distribution Agreement for BravesVision

The Atlanta Braves and FuboTV have announced a multiyear distribution agreement to carry BravesVision on Fubo's live TV streaming platform beginning Opening...

27/03/2026

As UFL Structure Evolves, League Boosts Broadcast Infrastructure at New Home Stadiums

Besides restructuring for Season 3, the league worked with FOX and ESPN over the...

27/03/2026

Atlanta Braves and DIRECTV Reach Multiyear Distribution Agreement for BravesVision

The Atlanta Braves open their 2026 MLB season tonight against the Kansas City Ro...

27/03/2026

New Venues, New Tech: How FOX Sports, ESPN Are Reinventing Their UFL Broadcasts for Year 3

With new teams and new venues to adapt to, the spring-football league's part...

27/03/2026

Give Me the Backstory: Get to Know Grace Glowicki, the Filmmaker Behind Dead Lover

By Lucy Spicer One of the most exciting things about the Sundance Film Festival...

27/03/2026

GIK Acoustics expand Bass Trap Panel range

New Classic, Amplitude & FlexRange units introduced GIK Acoustics have just introduced a trio of new bass trap designs that bring improved low-end absorptio...

27/03/2026

Sonarworks release SoundID Tools app

Offers personalised Dolby Atmos headphone monitoring Sonarworks have put their calibration expertise to work on a new mobile app that allows users to create...

27/03/2026

NITV to broadcast farewell to Rhoda Roberts AO with special coverage and week-long tribute

NITV to broadcast farewell to Rhoda Roberts AO with special coverage and week-lo...

27/03/2026

FCC Opposes Emergency Motion to Stay Nexstar/Tegna Merger

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

27/03/2026

NAB Pans Netflix's Coverage of MLB Opening Day

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

27/03/2026

2026 NAB Show Exhibitor Insight: Netgear

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

27/03/2026

Marshall Electronics Showcases New Feature-Rich CV320 and CV520 IP and 3G-SDI POV Cameras at NAB 2026

Marshall Electronics Showcases New Feature-Rich CV320 and CV520 IP and 3G-SDI PO...

27/03/2026

Sony Electronics Inc. Elevates Professional Video Workflows with Powerful Updates to Monitor & Control and Catalyst Tools

Sony Electronics Inc. Elevates Professional Video Workflows with Powerful Update...

27/03/2026

GatesAir Extends AirWatch365 Managed Service with Edge Gateway Site Appliance

GatesAir Extends AirWatch365 Managed Service with Edge Gateway Site Appliance Brie Clayton March 27, 2026 0 Comments NAB marks global launch of servic...

27/03/2026

GatesAir Expands AirWatch365 Managed Service

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

27/03/2026

Dejero, Eutelsat, Others to Offer 'Field to Air' Demo at NAB Show

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

27/03/2026

Global NextGen TV Takes Center Stage at 2026 NAB Show

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

27/03/2026

USSI Global Opens Media Transport Solutions Lab

Share Copy link Facebook X Linkedin Bluesky Email...

27/03/2026

Net Insight Elevates Nimbra Edge to Govern Live Media Sys...

At NAB Show 2026, Net Insight will showcase the next evolution of Nimbra Edge, its orchestration and control layer designed to manage live media services across...

27/03/2026

Harmonic Delivers Winning Live Sports Streaming Innovatio...

Harmonic (NASDAQ: HLIT) today announced powerful new innovations that further elevate the company's sports streaming solution. The advanced capabilities enh...

27/03/2026

Bitmovin s Player Web X Expands with Performance First Ad...

Bitmovin, the leading provider of video streaming solutions, today announced significant new capabilities for Player Web X, its next-generation web video player...

27/03/2026

CS live Builds Future Ready OB Van With Riedel MediorNet...

Riedel Communications today announced that Czech-based production company CS live has equipped its newest outside broadcast (OB) van with an integrated Riedel i...

27/03/2026

MPTS 2026 Unveils First Wave of Speakers Featuring BBC Sk...

130 Industry Experts Confirmed as Show Celebrates its 10th Anniversary MPTS, the UK's largest and most influential event for the media, production and tech...

27/03/2026

Grass Valley and NVP Elevate LALIGA Broadcast Production...

Grass Valley today announced the successful completion of a major live production deployment with NVP, a leading European media company specializing in live spo...

27/03/2026

Appear Business Momentum Drives Leadership in Live Produc...

Showcases resilient solutions for satellite-to-IP migration, REMI and hybrid live production Appear ASA (Appear, OSE:APR), a global leader in live production t...

27/03/2026

Lightware MX2 delivers rock-solid 4K60 HDMI 10-bit signal...

San Francisco, California, March 2026 - Microsoft Ignite, a major annual conference hosted by Microsoft for developers, IT professionals, partners and business ...

27/03/2026

Clear-Coms EQUIP Wireless System Keeps Youth With A Missi...

Clear-Com is proud to highlight its support for worship teams through professional communication solutions, with the deployment of its EQUIP wireless system a...

27/03/2026

Orban Collaborates with Sage on Virtualized EAS Technology Demo

Orban Collaborates with Sage on Virtualized EAS Technology Demo Brie Clayton March 26, 2026 0 Comments Sage Alerting Systems (SAS), in cooperation wit...

27/03/2026

Berklee Alums Bring GIANT to Broadway

Berklee Alums Bring GIANT to Broadway Brian and Dayna Lee BM '13 met and fell in love at Berklee, and now their production companys first Broadway debut i...

27/03/2026

RT is Supporting 20 Arts and Cultural Events all over Ireland this April

RT Supporting the Arts RT is Supporting 20 Arts and Cultural Events all over Ireland this April RT is proud to support an exciting month of arts and cul...

27/03/2026

Average of 1.37 million viewers watched Irish World Cup heartbreak on RT2

Average of 1.37 million viewers watched Irish World Cup heartbreak on RT 2 Over one million streams on RT Player Highest number of streams for any single eve...

27/03/2026

Dolby Unveils Dolby House Shanghai, its First Global Flagship Experience Center

March 27 2026, 01:30 (PDT) Dolby Unveils Dolby House Shanghai, its First Global Flagship Experience Center A New Global Platform Showcasing Dolbys Innovatio...