Attorney General William Tong has issued cease and desist letters to several weight loss spas in Connecticut, targeting the sale and advertising of non-FDA approved compounded GLP-1 weight loss drugs. The action follows previous warnings that such practices may violate the Connecticut Unfair Trade Practices Act.
The businesses named include CT Weight Loss Shot, which operates both CT Weight Loss Shot in Danbury and Vigorous 360 Wellness in Brookfield, as well as Radiance Medspa in Avon. These clinics have been promoting and prescribing compounded versions of semaglutide and tirzepatide injections. According to the Attorney General’s office, these products are being marketed with misleading claims about FDA approval and clinical testing.
“There are currently no generic GLP-1 weight loss injections on the market, and anyone advertising or offering this is not telling the truth and exposing patients to potentially unsafe bootleg drugs. Our ongoing investigation into these knockoffs found three clinics, owned or controlled by laypeople, not licensed healthcare providers, deceptively marketing these compounded injections in Connecticut. We have sent cease-and-desist letters to each of these clinics, and will not hesitate to take further action to protect patients and consumers,” said Attorney General Tong.
Investigators found that CT Weight Loss Shot and Vigorous 360 Wellness claimed their compounded injections were FDA approved generics of Ozempic and Mounjaro—drugs for which no such generics exist. They also implied that clinical trials supported their products when there is no evidence for this. Radiance Medspa continued its advertisements even though compounded versions of these medications cannot be prescribed generally.
None of the business owners appear to hold medical licenses required to provide care in Connecticut. State law prohibits non-healthcare providers from owning or operating medical clinics.
This enforcement effort follows a recent settlement with Triggered Brand, which was required to stop selling unauthorized GLP-1 weight loss drugs after a lawsuit alleged violations of state trade practices laws. The settlement includes a suspended $300,000 judgment dependent on compliance; failure would result in full payment by the company and its CEO Sam Stolt.
The Office of the Attorney General continues an investigation into Made In China, an international platform previously selling “research grade” GLP-1 injectables to U.S. consumers. After intervention from Tong’s office, Made In China reported it has halted marketing these products.
Earlier this year, Attorney General Tong notified Connecticut clinics that marketing compounded GLP-1 drugs may violate state law due to health concerns identified by the FDA—such as dosing errors, questionable sourcing from overseas factories with inconsistent inspection records, and reports of adverse events requiring medical attention. Despite warnings, some healthcare providers continue inappropriate advertising practices around these medications.
In February 2025, Tong joined a bipartisan group urging the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to intensify efforts against counterfeit forms of Mounjaro, Zepbound, Ozempic, and Wegovy sold online without prescriptions. The coalition highlighted how some retailers claim products are “for research purposes only,” but advertise directly on social media as affordable alternatives for consumers—raising risks due to unregulated sources.
The letter argued: “online retailers are illegally selling the active ingredients of GLP-1 drugs directly to consumers, without a prescription. These retailers claim that the active ingredients they sell are ‘for research purposes only’ or ‘not for human consumption’. In reality, these companies advertise directly to consumers on social media, claiming that their products are an easier and more affordable way to obtain GLP-1 drugs. Much like with counterfeit versions, these active ingredients come from unregulated, undisclosed sources and pose risks of contamination and inclusion of foreign substances.”
It continued: “the Food and Drug Administration has the expertise and resources to stop the bad conduct and deceptive practices by counterfeit drug manufacturers” while encouraging greater cooperation with state pharmacy boards for oversight over compounding pharmacies producing GLP-1 medications.
Assistant Attorney General Kate Hagmann-Borenstein; Deputy Associate Attorney General Michael Wertheimer; Chief of Consumer Protection Section; and Paralegal Specialist Casey Rybak are assisting in this matter.