Pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly do Brasil launched LillyScan (scan.lilly.com/br), an online verification tool that helps patients confirm whether the purchased Mounjaro is counterfeit or not. It works like this: the patient scans the QR Code located on the product packaging (next to the batch number and expiration date of the medicine) and LillyScan determines whether the serial number matches medicines manufactured by Lilly and officially sold in Brazil.
“Patient health and safety is Lilly’s top priority, and LillyScan is another initiative to combat irregular products that pose a real risk to people’s health,” says Luiz André Magno, senior medical director of Lilly Brasil, in a statement.
In addition to verification through LillyScan, patients should be aware of other indicators that a product advertised as “Mounjaro” may be counterfeit or improperly manipulated, according to the pharmaceutical company. For example, the QR Code must be clearly printed and readable to allow verification in the tool. If the code is blurry or unreadable (or if there is no QR Code), this may indicate counterfeiting or a product integrity problem.
Currently, Mounjaro manufactured by Lilly Brasil is the only tirzepatide approved by Anvisa for marketing in Brazil. However, counterfeit and manipulated versions of Mounjaro or tirzepatide are advertised and sold throughout Brazil, putting patients’ health at risk.
Counterfeit and manipulated products are not approved by any regulatory agency and cannot be manufactured in a safe and sterile environment. These products may not contain the active ingredient, contain the wrong medication, incorrect dosages, mixtures of multiple ingredients, or other harmful substances such as bacteria, endotoxins, and impurities. Using untested products can lead to serious health problems.
To guarantee the origin of the medicine, Mounjaro must be purchased only from pharmacies approved by Anvisa. Magno emphasizes that this is a prescription, shelf-stable medication and should only be used under the direction of a healthcare professional.
Patients who have doubts about the authenticity of a Mounjaro pen can also contact Lilly Customer Service (SAC) on 0800 701 0444 or via WhatsApp: +55 11 5108-0101.
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