Online Auction Sites Selling Fake Weight Loss Products

PARSIPPANY N.J., Jan. 18 /PRNewswire/ -- GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare alerts consumers today that a small quantity of fake weight loss product, falsely packaged and labeled as alli® has been sold on online auction websites, such as eBay.  The FDA has reassured consumers that "there is no evidence at this time that counterfeit alli products has been sold through other channels, such as retail stores." Consumers can have confidence buying alli only from reputable retailers or from their branded online websites. When purchased from these reputable retailers, consumers can have confidence the product is genuine and they should continue use.

The falsely packaged and labeled products are the 60mg, 120ct refill packs only.  The products are sold on online auction sites directly to consumers and are falsely represented as the genuine alli product.  

Preliminary testing confirms that the counterfeit products do not contain the active ingredient orlistat, which is found in the authentic alli product.  The prescription drug sibutramine has been detected in the fake product.  Sibutramine is the active ingredient in the prescription drug, Meridia.  Sibutramine could potentially interact with other medications the consumer may be taking and there are dosing differences between alli (three times a day) and Meridia (once a day).

While many of these counterfeit products may look similar to GSK's products, they are illegal and have no connection with GSK or FDA.  GSK Consumer Healthcare, along with FDA has initiated efforts to identify those responsible for counterfeit products.

HOW TO IDENTIFY THE FAKE  PRODUCT:

• The LOT code information is missing from the top of the box
• The expiration date includes month, day and year (example: 06162010);  The authentic alli expiration date includes only the month and year (example: 05/12)
• The seal on the bottle should read "SEALED FOR YOUR PROTECTION" in white ink on the GSK alli bottle; This statement is not present on the fake product
• The capsule size is slightly larger in the counterfeit and the content inside of the capsule is different – the counterfeit content is powdery and the genuine product is more of a pellet shape.

WHAT CONSUMERS SHOULD DO:

• Buy alli only from reputable retailers or from their branded online websites.  When purchased from these reputable retailers, consumers can have confidence the product is genuine and they should continue use.
• Consumers who suspect they have purchased counterfeit alli are urged to contact the FDA at http://www.accessdata.fda.gov/scripts/email/oc/oci/contact.cfm
• Consumers can visit www.myalli.com for more information.

VISUALS WITH SIDE BY SIDE COMPARISONS:

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About alli

alli is the only FDA-approved weight-loss product available to overweight adults, 18 years or older, without a prescription. alli is a clinically-proven product with a comprehensive, individualized action plan. The alli program encourages modest, gradual weight loss, known by experts as the best way to lose weight. alli (60 mg orlistat capsules) is safe and effective when used as directed. Because of the way it works, alli can help make you conscious of the foods you eat, which helps you lose weight and learn how to make healthy choices for life.

GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare is one of the world’s largest over-the-counter consumer healthcare products companies. Its more than 30 well-known brands include the leading smoking cessation products, Nicorette® and NicoDerm®CQ®, and Commit®, as well as many medicine cabinet staples -- alli®, Aquafresh®, Sensodyne®, and TUMS® -- which are trademarks owned by and/or licensed to GlaxoSmithKline Group of Companies.

GlaxoSmithKline – one of the world’s leading research-based pharmaceutical and healthcare companies – is committed to improving the quality of human life by enabling people to do more, feel better and live longer. For further information please visit www.gsk.com.

SOURCE GlaxoSmithKline