No Ads for Prescription Drugs: Panel Flags Surrogate Advertising, Misleading Promotions of GLP-1 Obesity Drugs

New Delhi: The Drugs Consultative Committee (DCC), during its 68th meeting, deliberated on strengthening regulatory oversight and enforcement against surrogate advertising of prescription-only medicines, with a specific focus on GLP-1 receptor agonists and similar drugs used for obesity and metabolic disorders.

The committee was apprised of an advisory issued by the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) on March 10, 2026, regarding the advertisement and promotion of prescription-only medicines, including GLP-1 receptor agonists and similar therapies used for obesity and metabolic disorders. These practices fall under the regulatory purview of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and the Drugs Rules, 1945.

GLP-1 analogues (GLP-1 receptor agonists) are medications that mimic the incretin hormone glucagon-like peptide-1, enhancing insulin secretion, suppressing glucagon, delaying gastric emptying, and promoting satiety. Primarily used for type 2 diabetes and obesity management, they aid in significant weight loss and glycemic control.Common examples include Semaglutide (Ozempic®, Wegovy®), Liraglutide (Victoza®, Saxenda®), and Dulaglutide (Trulicity®)

Earlier, the Medical Dialogues Team reported that the Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) issued an advisory cautioning pharmaceutical companies against direct or indirect promotional activities related to GLP-1 receptor agonists and similar prescription medicines used for obesity and metabolic disorders.

The advisory, issued by the Directorate General of Health Services under the provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and the Drugs Rules, 1945, stated that manufacturers and importers must ensure that the manufacture, sale, distribution, and promotion of drugs strictly adhere to approved indications, labeling requirements, and conditions of marketing authorization.

CDSCO clarified that prescription medicines, including GLP-1 receptor agonists, must only be prescribed by registered medical practitioners as per the approved indications. Any form of advertisement or promotional communication directed at the general public for prescription-only medicines is prohibited.

In line with the above, following detailed discussions, the DCC agreed on a set of key recommendations to strengthen enforcement:

1. State and Union Territory Drug Controllers should keep a vigil to ensure that Marketing Authorization Holders strictly comply with approved indications, labeling requirements, ethical marketing practices, and applicable Risk Management Plan (RMP) obligations, and that vulnerable populations are not exploited through misleading promotional practices.

2. Effective enforcement actions for significant violations may be taken by respective state/UT under intimation to CDSCO.

3. IPC to compile a monthly/bi-monthly review of adverse events of such drugs for further necessary action.