The Emirates Drug Establishment (EDE) has launched a significant crackdown on the illicit trade of unapproved weight-loss peptides, targeting 71 violators involved in their promotion and sale. This enforcement action includes citations against 14 registered facilities for regulatory non-compliance, alongside the referral of 14 social media influencers to the National Media Authority for illegally marketing pharmaceutical products online. While the EDE confirmed that no unauthorized substances were found in licensed warehouses, they are intensifying inspections of compounding pharmacies to ensure all medications meet strict quality and safety standards.

Authorities are particularly concerned about the rise of misleading advertisements on social media, where unapproved substances like Retatrutide—which is still in the clinical trial phase—are being marketed as safe, "magic" solutions. Officials emphasize that products sold via unofficial online channels carry severe health risks, as their authenticity, composition, and storage conditions cannot be verified. To combat this, the EDE is actively monitoring digital platforms to block illicit sellers and is urging the public to avoid purchasing any medication that has not been prescribed by a licensed healthcare provider through authorized channels.