Fake Mounjaro Scam: Unapproved 'Toneup' Tirzepatide Shots Sold via IndiaMART

New Delhi: The case of counterfeit Mounjaro injections being produced from a Sector 62 flat reveals a deeply troubling lapse in drug regulation and public awareness.

Investigators have uncovered that the accused was not only manufacturing fake versions of a widely used weight-loss drug but was also simultaneously developing and marketing an unapproved tirzepatide-based injection under his own brand, ‘Toneup’.

According to a recent media report by The Times of India, officials stated that Avi Sharma employed 3D printing technology to fabricate packaging materials such as cartons, labels, and instruction leaflets that closely imitated genuine Mounjaro products. Simultaneously, he had prepared 15–16 vials branded as Toneup, which he allegedly marketed online as a separate weight-loss solution.

Authorities confirmed that these Toneup vials have now been tracked to customers in Delhi, Hyderabad, and other cities across the country.

"He had prepared 15-16 vials under this brand name and sold them through an online platform to buyers in Delhi and other parts of the country. We have retrieved the injections from Delhi. The others are being traced. Six injections sold in Hyderabad have also been traced," mentioned Amandeep Chauhan, the district drug controller.

The drug control department has requested transaction details from IndiaMART, where Sharma allegedly listed the injections, and has initiated an urgent recall process. "This brand has no approval from any authority, and these injections were never tested. Anyone who has them should not use them at all," Chauhan stated. Officials added that the injections were priced between ₹11,000 and ₹18,000. Sharma remains in judicial custody until May 8.

The illegal operation was uncovered on April 22, when a joint team of drug inspectors and police intercepted a vehicle near Super Mart-1 and confiscated 262 vials of suspected counterfeit injections valued at over ₹70 lakh. Sharma and his associate, Mujammil Khan, were taken into custody. Further investigation revealed that the manufacturing setup was run from a Sector 62 apartment converted into a basic production unit.

Authorities described the setup as rudimentary, consisting of a single room equipped with a refrigerator and deep freezer. According to Chauhan, Sharma relied on online resources such as Google, ChatGPT, and YouTube to learn how to prepare injections.

Investigators stated that Sharma procured research-grade tirzepatide, cartridges, and injection pens online, assembling the final products at home. He allegedly used 3D printing to replicate packaging components resembling the original drug. During inspection, officials noted clear inconsistencies in colour, typography, text alignment, and pen illustrations. "These discrepancies clearly showed that the product was not genuine," Chauhan added.

Legal action has been initiated under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940, including Section 17B (spurious drugs) and Sections 27(a) and 27(c), which prescribe penalties for such offences.

All confiscated samples have been dispatched for laboratory analysis, including sterility testing, with results expected after a 14-day incubation period, reports Times of India.

A spokesperson for Eli Lilly India, the manufacturer of Mounjaro, stated that the company "takes patient safety extremely seriously", welcomed the enforcement action, and is "actively supporting the investigation".