Executive Summary
- The MHRA seized 2,000 counterfeit weight-loss pens in a raid in Northampton, UK.
- Alluvi Healthcare Limited continues to sell experimental retatrutide via Telegram despite the raid.
- Retatrutide is an unapproved drug currently in clinical trials by Eli Lilly.
- Payments are reportedly disguised as fitness plans to bypass financial filters.
A company implicated in a significant seizure of illicit weight-loss medications by the United Kingdom’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) remains active, continuing to sell unlicensed drugs to thousands of customers, according to an investigation by The Guardian.
In October, MHRA officials raided a facility in Northampton, confiscating more than 2,000 counterfeit and unlicensed pens of retatrutide and tirzepatide, along with manufacturing equipment and approximately £20,000 in cash. Despite the enforcement action and the confiscation of branded inventory, Alluvi Healthcare Limited has reportedly maintained operations through the encrypted messaging platform Telegram and a dedicated website.
Retatrutide is an experimental injectable currently undergoing clinical trials by US pharmaceutical giant Eli Lilly. Because the drug has not received regulatory approval, its sale to consumers is illegal. Health experts caution that counterfeit versions sold online are unregulated and pose severe safety risks, including potential bacterial contamination, incorrect dosages, and dangerous side effects such as pancreatitis and cardiovascular complications.
According to The Guardian’s report, purchases for Alluvi products are allegedly processed through a third-party e-commerce entity known as Nutri Collectiv. Transaction records suggest payments are routed through Stripe under the guise of "weight loss plans" or fitness programs, a method reportedly used to evade detection by financial institutions.
A separate investigation by Channel 4 alleges that critics of the company have been targeted by coordinated social media campaigns. The network reported that legitimate influencers who raised concerns about Alluvi had their profiles impersonated, leading to their actual accounts being banned by platforms like TikTok after the imposters filed false impersonation claims.
Regulatory Enforcement Challenges
The continued operation of this vendor highlights the significant challenges regulators face in policing the digital grey market for pharmaceuticals. While physical raids can disrupt supply chains temporarily, the use of encrypted communication channels and disguised payment gateways allows illicit operators to maintain distribution networks. This incident underscores the public safety threat posed by unverified chemical compounds marketed as wellness products, particularly those requiring sterile injectable administration. Authorities have noted that no arrests have been made in connection with the raid at this time. It is important to note that all individuals and entities are presumed innocent until proven guilty in a court of law.
