Regulation and Policy

The MHRA has obtained court orders freezing more than £200,000 linked to Alluvi Healthcare as part of an ongoing investigation into illicit weight-loss injections, including products labelled as retatrutide. The BBC has reported on four raids over nine months and thousands of seized doses. Here is what the case reveals — and why anyone considering buying unapproved injections outside a regulated pharmacy needs to understand what "illicit" actually means.

Eli Lilly has filed a US federal lawsuit against six companies selling products marketed as retatrutide, a medicine that has not yet been approved anywhere in the world. The case shines a direct light on the grey market for retatrutide that has grown in the UK and globally ahead of any authorised launch. Here is what the lawsuit means, and why UK readers should pay close attention.

Media warnings about unlicensed retatrutide have divided patient communities, with some readers calling headlines alarmist and others welcoming stronger safety messaging. The debate lays bare how urgently people want access to the next generation of weight loss medicines — years before any formal UK approval is likely. Here is what the row actually tells us.

Millions of Britons are now actively considering weight loss injections, but access, affordability and long-term support remain serious unresolved problems. Reuters reported in June 2026 that growing demand is placing real strain on UK healthcare services. For patients weighing up their options, the picture is more complicated than it looks.

A landmark new survey reveals that millions of British adults have already tried weight loss drugs or are seriously considering them. But experts warn that NHS access is failing to keep pace with demand. If you are thinking about treatment, here is what you genuinely need to know before spending a penny.

Thousands of UK women taking weight loss jabs may not realise they could be breaking the law behind the wheel. Motoring experts are warning that side effects like dizziness and fatigue could land you with a fine of up to £1,000. Here is everything you need to know before you drive.

The UK medicines regulator has updated its official safety guidance for Mounjaro, Ozempic and similar weight loss jabs, flagging a rare but potentially fatal risk of severe pancreatitis. If you are currently taking one of these treatments privately, here is exactly what the new warning means for you. This is not a reason to panic — but it is a reason to read carefully.

The UK medicines regulator has updated its official safety guidance for Mounjaro and Ozempic, flagging a rare but serious risk of severe pancreatitis — including cases that have been fatal. If you are currently taking either drug, or thinking about starting, here is exactly what the new warning means for you.

From April 2026, GPs in England can prescribe Mounjaro for obesity as part of their NHS contract for the first time. But there are important conditions attached — and not every patient who qualifies will automatically get it. Here is what you actually need to know.

Thousands of UK women are taking weight loss jabs privately — but many have no idea that side effects like dizziness and fatigue could land them with a £1,000 fine. The DVLA has rules that apply to you whether your prescription appears on NHS records or not. Here is everything you need to know before you get behind the wheel.