Are GLP-1 Supplement Claims Misleading?
The deceptive marketing lawyers at The Lyon Firm are investigating false advertising and potential fraud involving companies selling GLP-1 supplements and medications. Hundreds of online vendors and beauty clinics are attempting to take advantage of the weight-loss supplement craze, and some may take it a bit too far with misleading claims and false advertising tactics.
Some companies have already been reprimanded by the FDA, and some have been named defendants in class action lawsuits for exaggerating the benefits of their GLP-1 supplements in marketing material. Contact our consumer protection attorneys to discuss what may constitute a misleading claim and to consider filing a class action deceptive marketing lawsuit.
GLP-1 Supplements vs. GLP-1 Medications
GLP-1 medications have been wildly popular, and some reports suggest as many as 15 million individuals are currently taking one form or another. This class of drugs was developed to treat type 2 diabetes and has since been used by doctors to treat obesity in patients with or without the disease. The weight loss benefits are undeniable, and there are specific GLP-1 drugs made for diabetic patients and others intended to be sold primarily for weight loss.
The popularity of these GLP-1 medications has led to shortages, high prices, and also an opportunity in the supplement industry to take advantage of the demand. GLP-1 supplements are everywhere on the internet these days, and some may not resemble GLP-1 drugs at all. They have been marketed agressively and some have called them “nature’s Ozempic.”
Consumer safety lawyers, however, are not only dubious of the effectiveness of GLP-1 supplements, but are questioning many of the misleading claims and false advertising associated with them. Some companies are promising the same benefits as a GLP-1 pharmaceutical but without any medical studies that support these claims.
We know these supplements are generally much cheaper than the injectable prescription drugs, and maybe for good reason. Some of these supplements don’t contain the same compounds at all, and some contain so little that doctors say it’s likely they have very little impact on their intended benefits.
Ozempic and Wegovy, for example, both contain semaglutide as an active ingredient, which mimics GLP-1. These drugs have been clinically shown to suppress appetite, leading people to lose weight. This may not always be the case with the cheaper supplements on the market, but that has not stopped companies from piggybacking on the success of the proven drugs.
What may be misleading is when supplements have the term “GLP-1” on their packaging, but they do not contain GLP-1. They may not contain an agonist or a mimicking hormone. Some only contain fruit or vegetable extracts that purport to boost your body’s natural GLP-1. Many consumers and plaintiffs around the nation have expressed frustration when they learn that the supplements they have purchased do not contain what is clearly on the label.
When companies engage in deceptive marketing, they may be held liable in consumer fraud class action lawsuits. Practices like mislabeling products, or otherwise violating consumer protection laws, are unacceptable betrayals of trust. You can help hold these companies accountable.
The Lyon Firm is a highly-rated product liability and consumer safety law firm headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio. We represent plaintiffs nationwide in individual claims and consumer safety class action lawsuits.
If you need consumer protection representation, contact our offices today at (513) 381-2333 for a free, confidential, no-obligation consultation.
ABOUT THE LYON FIRM
Joseph Lyon has 17 years of experience representing individuals in complex litigation matters. He has represented individuals in every state against many of the largest companies in the world.
The Firm focuses on single-event civil cases and class actions involving corporate neglect & fraud, toxic exposure, product defects & recalls, medical malpractice, and invasion of privacy.
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The Firm offers contingency fees, advancing all costs of the litigation, and accepting the full financial risk, allowing our clients full access to the legal system while reducing the financial stress while they focus on their healthcare and financial needs.
How Much Is a False Advertising Lawsuit Worth?
Settlements and verdicts for consumer fraud protection cases may include:
- A refund of the money you were fraudulently charged
- Compensation for the time spent in discovering, investigating, and dealing with this issue
- Related remedies, like a year of free identity theft protection
- New reforms and regulations that help protect you and other consumers going forward
- A public admission from the company that helps spread awareness of the fraud, and serve as vindication for you and others who were victimized
Consumer fraud cases impact large numbers of people across the country. By pursuing a lawsuit for yourself, you can potentially help each and every one of them.
Are GLP-1 Supplements FDA Approved?
Because the FDA does not actively regulate the supplement industry, companies are meant to adhere to fair trade practices and laws and regulate their own advertising and marketing materials. So, no, these supplements are not approved. But that does not always mean they are a fraud; it simply means they have not gone through the rigorous FDA approval process that reviews new products for safety, effectiveness and quality.
The FDA is aware that many consumers are looking to unapproved versions of GLP-1 (glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists) drugs and supplements because of the high price tag on these popular drugs.
But looking for cheaper options may not only be risky for personal health, it can be risky for a potential waste of money if the supplement has little or no health benefit.
The FDA does monitor internet commerce, and when they have discovered fraudulent or unapproved drugs, they have issued warning letters to stop the distribution of illegally marketed drugs and supplements.
The FDA recently sent a warning letter to Verony, a California-based company, for misbranding their “Elily Veronvy” and “Elily Veronvy 40+.”
Another one of the questionable products on the market , according to consumer safety attorneys, is the Lemme GLP-1 Daily, a weight loss supplement from Kourtney Kardashian Barker’s wellness brand. The product is advertised as helping to reduce hunger, decrease weight and increase levels of GLP-1. The supplement’s claim to promote natural production of the GLP-1 hormone has not been studied well, which has led to deceptive marketing legal action. Some have also argued that if supplements sound too good to be true, they probably are. GLP-1 supplements are sold for a fraction of the price of the actual FDA approved drugs so it’s too much to ask for similar results.
The Lemme brand states that its GLP-1 Daily supplement is “formulated with clinically validated ingredients based on gold-standard human clinical studies that show increased GLP-1 levels, reduced hunger, and visceral fat loss.” Lemme’s GLP-1 Daily product contains Eriomin® Lemon Fruit Extract, Supresa® Saffron Extract, and MorosilTM Red Orange Fruit Extract.
In their defense, the company says their GLP-1 supplement is tested by NSF, an independent testing organization, to support their safety and dosage claims. The website also clearly states that their “GLP-1 Daily™ does not contain synthetic GLP-1 and is not a GLP-1 agonist drug.”
However, legal experts have argued that their labeling the supplement as such is allegedly misleading and they are facing class action litigation.
Can You File a GLP-1 Supplement Lawsuit?
Two new class action lawsuits, one in California and the other in New York, allege Lemme has engaged in a deceptive marketing campaign.
The complaints bring parallel causes of action under the state consumer fraud statutes. The complaint says Kourtney Kardashian’s Lemme GLP-1 Daily, a GLP-1 weight-loss supplement, claims to boost the body’s production of GLP-1 by up to 17 percent, and will promote the body’s GLP-1 production.
According to the complaints, Lemme’s cited studies do not properly demonstrate any discernible effect on weight loss, and the results measured by the studies are negligible compared to the naturally occurring fluctuations in the body’s GLP-1 levels.
Many courts find language like “clinically proven” or “clinically shown” to offer a stated benefit can be misleading and actionable if the product is not backed by the claimed clinical test or study. Lemme claims, for example, that their GLP-1 supplement product acts with “three clinically studied ingredients.” Plaintiffs argue that “clinically studied” implies “clinically proven” or “clinically shown.
Our legal team is actively investigating supplement companies that sell unproven products to consumers with misleading claims and exaggerated benefits. Consumers who believe a company made outrageous promises about potential results and benefits of their product can contact an attorney to review a possible legal claim. Compensation may be available for large amounts of money spent on supplements that did not provide any health benefits, and filing a class action lawsuit can be considered.
How Do GLP-1 Drugs Work?
GLP-1 is a naturally occurring hormone that helps regulate blood sugar and feelings of satiety. GLP-1 agonists mimic this hormone, improving blood sugar levels, slowing the movement of food from the stomach into the small intestine, and helping individuals feel satiated. The following are FDA-approved GLP drugs:
- Ozempic (semaglutide)
- Rybelsus (semaglutide)
- Wegovy (semaglutide)
- Mounjaro (tirzepatide)
- Zepbound (tirzepatide)
- Saxenda (liraglutide)
- Victoza (liraglutide)
- Trulicity (dulaglutide from Eli Lilly and Company)
If you feel you have been defrauded, contact The Lyon Firm for a free consultation by calling (513) 381-2333. Representation means that we do the investigatory work to make sure your case is as strong as possible.
Contact an Experienced Consumer Fraud Attorney
Consumers have a multitude of rights and protections in the United States, but that doesn’t keep some greedy companies from trying to defraud customers. Those rights must be guarded and enforced, and filing a consumer fraud lawsuit is one of the most direct ways to hold such companies accountable.
Joe Lyon has represented individuals nationwide in consumer protection class action cases. These include instances of false advertising, mislabeled food, deceptive advertising, and other forms of fraudulent marketing claims. If you need an attorney who can provide individualized attention even when taking on a large class-action lawsuit, The Lyon Firm has you covered.
Reach out to us today via our online contact form, or by calling (513) 381-2333. Your communications with us are fully confidential, and your consultation is free of charge. You can rest assured that with The Lyon Firm, the service and dedication we promise are as-advertised.