Senator Thom Tillis (R-NC) has taken steps to address the public health threat posed by counterfeit and illegally imported GLP-1 receptor agonist medications. In a letter to Attorney General Bondi, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Noem, and U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Commissioner Makary, Tillis expressed his concerns about these issues.
“FDA-approved GLP-1 therapies such as Ozempic, Wegovy, Mounjaro, and Zepbound have revolutionized the treatment of obesity and Type 2 diabetes for millions of Americans,” stated Senator Tillis. He highlighted that the demand for these therapies has attracted criminal enterprises aiming to exploit vulnerable patients. “Counterfeiters have introduced falsified products into the U.S. market,” he noted, including counterfeit Ozempic pens with fraudulent lot numbers and non-sterile needles.
Tillis referenced a report from the Partnership for Safe Medicines that identified illegal importation patterns of unverified semaglutide and tirzepatide APIs from foreign suppliers between 2023 and 2025. “239 shipments of these unapproved APIs were identified,” he mentioned, raising concerns about supply chain legitimacy.
The senator urged the FDA to enhance education on counterfeit dangers while prioritizing enforcement against those introducing unsafe products into supply chains. “Strengthened collaboration between the FDA, U.S. Customs and Border Protection, and the Department of Justice is essential,” he emphasized.
Tillis also called for clear guidance to healthcare providers regarding sourcing medications exclusively from FDA-registered manufacturers to restore public confidence in medication safety.
