New Delhi: India’s drug regulator has warned pharmaceutical companies not to promote weight loss and obesity medicines directly or indirectly to the public, saying such advertising could mislead people and lead to misuse of prescription drugs.
The Central Drugs Standard Control Organization issued the advisory to drug manufacturers after noticing an increase in promotional campaigns linked to obesity treatments. The regulator reminded companies that prescription medicines cannot be advertised to the public in India and must be used only under medical supervision.
Authorities said the warning applies not only to direct advertisements but also to indirect promotions known as surrogate advertising. These include campaigns that focus on obesity awareness or brand promotion but indirectly encourage people to seek specific prescription medicines.
Officials said such marketing could influence people to request particular drugs even when they may not be medically necessary. The regulator also warned companies not to exaggerate the benefits of weight loss medicines or make claims that could give people unrealistic expectations.
The advisory comes at a time when new obesity drugs are gaining attention around the world. Several medicines originally developed for diabetes are now widely used to help people lose weight, leading to a growing global market for these treatments.
Health authorities in India said aggressive marketing and social media promotion could increase the risk of misuse. They stressed that weight loss medicines should only be taken under a doctor’s guidance and should be combined with healthy diet and lifestyle changes.
The warning also comes as generic versions of some popular obesity drugs are expected to enter the Indian market in the future. Regulators said that even if these medicines become more affordable, they will still remain prescription drugs and cannot be promoted directly to consumers.
Officials said strict action may be taken against companies that violate the rules or attempt to promote prescription medicines through indirect campaigns.