Unlicensed sales of the experimental weight-loss drug retatrutide, sometimes referred to as the "Godzilla jab," are taking place in the United Kingdom through social media channels, according to a recent investigation. Despite not being authorized for human use in the UK, the drug—developed by Eli Lilly as a next-generation obesity treatment—is reportedly being distributed in significant quantities, raising concerns about safety and regulatory enforcement.
Retatrutide has garnered attention for its potential effectiveness, with clinical trials suggesting it may help users lose up to one-third of their body weight. However, the drug remains under investigation and is not yet licensed for public use. Nonetheless, researchers and medical professionals warn that unregulated versions, many believed to be manufactured in industrial-scale laboratories in China, are being sold illegally. These versions may carry serious health risks, as their purity, dosage, and safety cannot be guaranteed.
The drug is being sold online by a variety of middle-class individuals, including professionals and entrepreneurs. One individual identified in the investigation, Sheryl Cuisia, an entrepreneur affiliated with King’s College, Cambridge, reportedly sold a five-week supply to an undercover reporter. Cuisia operates a website that markets various weight-loss and beauty-related substances labeled for "research use only," a legal disclaimer often used to circumvent restrictions on sale for human consumption.
Investigators traced the origins of these products to Chinese laboratories, uncovering a sprawling 15,000-square-meter facility with multiple production lines dedicated to weight-loss drugs. The laboratory claims the capacity to produce up to 350 tons annually and openly offers wholesale pricing and shipment to the UK. Price comparisons suggest resellers are marking up the drug by several multiples—potentially earning thousands of pounds in profit from bulk purchases.
Concerns over safety are growing. UK regulatory authority Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has received over 100 reports of potential side effects linked to retatrutide, including one fatality, though it cautions that these reports do not establish causation. Side effects reported in legitimate clinical trials include nausea, diarrhea, and constipation; anecdotal user reports have also highlighted irregular heart rates and menstrual disruptions. The MHRA has emphasized that disclaimers about research-only use do not exempt sellers promoting the drug for weight loss from regulatory action.
Experts have voiced alarm over the emerging trend of otherwise health-conscious individuals turning to unlicensed pharmaceuticals marketed heavily on social media. Adam Taylor, a professor of anatomy at Lancaster University, noted that promotion by influencers and peers in affluent circles may create a false perception of safety, leading users to take significant risks with drugs that have yet to complete rigorous safety assessments.
In response, the MHRA’s criminal enforcement unit has conducted multiple raids targeting illegal drug operations in the UK, seizing thousands of unlicensed retatrutide and similar products. Officials warn consumers to be wary of "rogue sellers" and caution that counterfeit or unregulated medicines could pose serious health dangers.
Cuisia declined to comment on the findings of the investigation when approached by reporters. Regulators continue to urge the public to avoid purchasing and using unlicensed pharmaceuticals sourced through unauthorized channels.