What is the Mounjaro price rise and how is it impacting consumers?

Mounjaro, a weight-loss medication made by Eli Lilly, has seen a 170% price increase due to Donald Trump's tariffs, causing the cost to skyrocket to as much as £330 for a month's supply. This has driven many consumers to seek out cheaper, unregulated alternatives on the black market.

How are dealers responding to the Mounjaro price hike?

Steroid dealers have been importing counterfeit versions of Mounjaro and other weight-loss injections from Chinese laboratories, which they can purchase in bulk for as little as £1.50 per vial and resell at a profit. This has led to a flood of these dangerous, unregulated knockoffs on the black market.

What are the risks of these counterfeit weight-loss drugs?

Criminologist Dr. Luke Turnock warns that the proliferation of these illicit, unregulated alternatives puts consumers' health at serious risk, as the drugs are not subject to the same safety standards and quality controls as the genuine Mounjaro medication.

Home / Health / Counterfeit Weight-Loss Drugs Flood Black Market Amid Soaring Prices

Counterfeit Weight-Loss Drugs Flood Black Market Amid Soaring Prices

17 Aug

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Summary

Dealers importing copycat drugs from China, selling on social media and in salons
Mounjaro price rises 170% due to Trump tariffs, driving demand for cheaper alternatives
Unregulated "research chemicals" sold as next-gen weight-loss jabs

Counterfeit Weight-Loss Drugs Flood Black Market Amid Soaring Prices

As of August 17, 2025, experts are warning consumers against turning to the black market for weight-loss medications in the wake of soaring prices for the popular drug Mounjaro. Dealers have been importing copycat versions of the drug from Chinese laboratories and selling them through social media and beauty salons, capitalizing on the 170% price increase caused by Donald Trump's tariffs.

The price of Mounjaro, made by Eli Lilly, has skyrocketed to as much as £330 for a month's supply, making it inaccessible for many. In response, steroid dealers have begun sourcing imitation versions of Mounjaro and other weight-loss injections, which they can purchase in bulk from Chinese labs for as little as £1.50 per vial and resell at a profit.

Criminologist Dr. Luke Turnock warns that the price hike will drive many people to seek out these illicit, unregulated alternatives, putting their health at risk. The laboratories have also pivoted to selling imitation versions of retatrutide, a next-generation weight-loss jab still in clinical trials, which they can market as "research chemicals" to bypass regulations.

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