PCP cautions public vs unregistered diabetes drugs

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March 15, 2026 | 12:00am

MANILA, Philippines — A group of health experts warned the public against the use of drugs being marketed for the treatment of type 2 diabetes and obesity but are compounded and unregistered with the Food and Drug Administration.

The Philippine College of Physicians (PCP) raised its concern on the increasing promotion, sale and use of compounded GLP-1 receptor agonists, including the compounded versions of semaglutide and tirzepatide used in treating type 2 diabetes and obesity.

“While GLP-1 based therapies have demonstrated substantial benefits when approved by regulatory authorities and manufactured under strict pharmaceutical standards, compounded or unregistered formulations pose serious risks to patient safety and may violate existing Philippine laws governing pharmaceutical practice,” the PCP said in an advisory.

The group noted that international regulatory agencies and pharmacovigilance reports have identified serious dangers associated with compounded GLP-1 receptor agonists that have not undergone proper regulatory review.

These include incorrect dosing or overdose, especially with multi-dose vials requiring manual measurement; inconsistent drug potency or concentration leading to treatment failure or toxicity; and use of untested chemical forms, including semaglutide salt preparations not evaluated in clinical trials.

“Unlike approved medicines, these compounded products have not undergone rigorous clinical trials, manufacturing oversight or regulatory evaluation required by the Food and Drug Administration,” the PCP said.