Scripps News Investigates: A shadow market for diet drugs [Video]

On a December afternoon, Scripps News investigative correspondent Catie Beck walks up to a van in a New Orleans city park wearing a hidden camera. About 10 minutes later, she leaves with an envelope of four syringes full of what she’s told is prescription weight loss drugs.  

Her name is nowhere on the envelope or the syringes. Neither is a doctor’s name, or a pharmacy name. 

As demand for weight loss drugs like the FDA-approved brand names Ozempic and Wegovy continue to cause worldwide shortages, a Scripps News investigation dug into the shadow market for the coveted active ingredient, semaglutide. 

We found a wide range of alternate versions advertised for purchase online, some touting sales and discounts. Many were around $200 a month or less – much cheaper than the FDA-approved branded drug, which can run about $1,200 a month. 

The Food and Drug Administration has warned patients to be …