GlaxoSmithKline plc (GSK, GSK.L) said Monday 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 company said 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.
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."
Preliminary laboratory tests conducted by GlaxoSmithKline , which makes the approved version of Alli, showed that the counterfeit version did not contain its active ingredient orlistat, rather it contained sibutramine, which is the active ingredient in the prescription drug Meridia.
Sibutramine hould not be used by certain patients or without physician oversight and can interact in a harmful way with other drugs the consumer may be taking.
For comments and feedback: editorial@rttnews.com