Two deaths were reported to the FDA. Is the bootleg weight-loss drug "Reta" to blame?
Updated on: October 13, 2026 / 1:38 PM EDT / CBS News
TL;DR
- Two deaths have been reported to the FDA, allegedly linked to counterfeit versions of the experimental weight-loss drug retatrutide.
- Retatrutide, developed by Eli Lilly, is not yet approved by the FDA, and its commercial sale is prohibited.
- The deaths are the first public accounts in the U.S. alleging involvement of unauthorized retatrutide or similar products.
- The FDA received reports of a 41-year-old woman dying from cardiac arrest and a 49-year-old patient dying after severe dehydration and cardiac arrest, both allegedly after obtaining retatrutide from unreliable sources.
- America's Poison Centers have reported a steady increase in retatrutide exposures.
- Eli Lilly stated the individuals were taking black-market retatrutide and that their company is taking legal action against sellers of bootleg versions.
- One report mentions a nurse allegedly encouraging a patient to buy retatrutide from an online peptide vendor, AlphaLabs.
- The owner of AlphaLabs, Joseph Samara, denied selling retatrutide, and his attorney stated there was insufficient information in the FDA report to confirm sales.