Urgent warning over experimental ‘Godzilla’ weight loss jab after surge in demand on black market – users could face TWO YEAR prison sentence
Experts have sounded the alarm over a concerning surge in black market demand for a powerful new drug dubbed the ‘Godzilla’ of weight loss jabs.
Early trials of the drug, Retatrutide, suggest it can help people shed a quarter of their body weight in under a year – almost twice as effective as Ozempic.
Unlike other slimming injections, the experimental jab, manufactured by Eli Lilly, not only suppresses appetite but also speeds up metabolism.
Because it targets three hormones involved in eating and weight regulation, it has been nicknamed ‘triple G’.
But the once-weekly injection is still in clinical trials, with phase three results not expected until 2026.
Yet social media users are already claiming to have sourced the drug on the black market, boasting of losing more than three stone in just months.
Since Eli Lilly announced it would significantly raise the cost of its approved weight loss jab Mounjaro in the UK, there has also been a 5000 per cent spike in UK online searches for ‘where to inject Retatrutide’.
Health experts have now urged people not to be tempted by the ‘incredibly risky’ black market, warning the products are often counterfeit and could be pose huge health dangers.
Social media users are already claiming to have sourced the drug on the black market, boasting of losing more than three stone in just months
UK law also forbids the possession of any unlicensed medication like Retatrutide. Doing so could result in a fine and up to two years in prison.
Danielle Brightman, clinical director at health provider Numan, said: ‘What we’re seeing instead is people turning to the black market, which is incredibly risky.
‘These products are often unregulated, meaning there is no guarantee about the dose, purity, or even the active ingredient.
‘Using them could expose people to serious side effects, contamination, or long-term harm.
‘It’s also important to highlight the legal risks.
Under the Human Medicines Regulations 2012, possessing or buying an unlicensed medicine like Retatrutide without authorisation is illegal.
‘Offences can lead to up to two years in prison and unlimited fines. So not only are people putting their health at risk, they could also face very real legal consequences.’
She added: ‘As of 2025, Retatrutide is in Phase 3 trials, and if all goes well, it could be on track for approval between 2026 and 2027.
Eli Lilly’s trial results, published in the New England Journal of Medicine last year, followed 338 overweight and obese adults for 48 weeks. Those taking the highest dose of the weekly injection – 12 mg – shed nearly 25 percent of their bodyweight by the study’s end
Health experts have urged people not to be tempted by unapproved supplies of Retatrutide, warning that most are counterfeit and could be dangerous. Pictured, counterfeit Retatrutide
‘This means that unless you’re receiving it through a clinical trial, you will not be receiving a genuine product.
Eli Lilly has also issued its own stark warning.
A spokesperson said: ‘Retatrutide is an investigational molecule that Lilly is studying for the treatment of obesity—it is in phase 3 clinical trials and is not available to patients outside of these trials.
‘Any product falsely representing itself as a Lilly investigational product not yet approved may expose patients to potentially serious health risks.’
On Reddit, many users are claiming to have access to ‘Reta’, asking people to message them for details.
One user warned: ‘I’ve seen random Reddit users advertising the sale of Reta, and a bunch of people are PM’ing them for details.
‘Please do NOT buy it from an online stranger. Unless you’re part of the official trial, you cannot legally access this medication in the UK.
‘It’s not available in the UK and likely won’t be for a long time. If anyone offers it to you online, ignore and block.’
Last year this website revealed counterfeit versions of the drug were already on sale in Britain for as little as £2 a shot.
Chinese firms were even offering samples for 80p a dose, labelled as ‘research only’ and ‘not for human consumption’ in a bid to dodge regulators.
Trial results so far have shown striking weight-loss figures.
In one study, women on Retatrutide lost an average of 28.5 per cent of their body weight in 48 weeks, while men lost 21.2 per cent.
More obese participants lost 26.5 per cent, and unusually every single participant shed at least five per cent of their body weight.
Side effects were similar to other GLP-1 drugs, including nausea, diarrhoea and constipation.
By comparison, Ozempic typically results in up to 15 per cent weight loss over 68 weeks, while Mounjaro has been shown to deliver up to 22.5 per cent over 72 weeks.
