India Drug Regulator Ramps Up Monitoring of Obesity Therapies

India‘s drugs regulator has intensified the surveillance of unauthorized sale and promotion of anti-obesity drugs, as the onslaught of cheaper generic versions from this month raises concerns about their wide availability and unchecked use.

Regulatory scrutiny of the supply chain and on-demand availability of these weight-loss drugs “will continue to be intensified in the coming weeks,” the country’s health ministry said in a statement Tuesday. The Drugs Controller General of India will punish non-compliance by retailers, clinics and others through cancellation of licenses, penalties and prosecution, it said.

Citizens are advised to use such medications only under the guidance of ...