Regulator Cracks Down on Weight-Loss Drug Ads, Warns Pharma Against Surrogate Marketing

• India's drug regulator, CDSCO, warns pharmaceutical companies against direct or indirect promotion of prescription weight-loss drugs.
• The advisory targets promotional campaigns for GLP-1 receptor agonists, including disease awareness and influencer engagement.
• Advertising prescription drugs to the public is prohibited under India’s Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940 and Drugs Rules, 1945.
• CDSCO emphasizes these are prescription-only medicines and warns against misleading claims of guaranteed weight loss or downplaying lifestyle changes.
• Companies must adhere to ethical marketing, provide clear product info, and submit risk management plans to ensure public health.