Celebrities and influencers could be hired to warn Americans about fake medicines and medical devices as part of a nationwide awareness campaign. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO) is exploring a campaign targeting counterfeit pharmaceuticals and medical devices, and government procurement documents show the proposed work includes a direction to "identify and pitch key individuals (influencers, celebrities, journalists) to cover and promote the campaign." According to the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), counterfeit medicines passed off as authentic products can contain harmful substances, incorrect ingredients or too much, too little or none of an active ingredient needed to treat a patient's condition. The risks have already prompted U.S. warnings about products such as counterfeit Ozempic injections and bacteria-contaminated eye drops.
Fake medicines can leave patients without effective treatment while exposing them to substances they did not intend to take. The FDA describes the U.S. drug supply as among the world's safest, supported by federal and state laws designed to protect distribution. However, counterfeit products have entered the system, making the problem more than a risk confined to unfamiliar websites.
In a weeklong Cincinnati operation announced in August 2025, Customs and Border Protection (CBP) officers working with the FDA seized 54,843 counterfeit products. The agency said the products would have been worth more than $3.53 million if genuine. CBP also said the intercepted shipments included counterfeit Ozempic and injections labeled as semaglutide, retatrutide and tirzepatide.
Officers seized 16,740 counterfeit prefilled medicated pens during the operation. The USPTO's request for information seeks companies capable of developing public messaging, videos, social media content and a dedicated campaign website. Celebrity outreach appears among possible activities.
No participants, budgets, appearance fees or launch dates were identified in the published documents. Newsweek has contacted the USPTO via email for further information. The procurement document stresses that the exercise is "strictly for market research ONLY." It is not an awarded contract or a commitment to launch.
Industry responses are due November 16. The documents do not identify particular medicines as campaign targets. Documents seen by Newsweek said, "This effort is for campaign services to support a nationwide public awareness campaign to highlight the dangers of counterfeit pharmaceuticals and medical devices." "The USPTO is seeking information from qualified vendors regarding capabilities and relevant experience to support potential public relations services to create and execute a nationwide public awareness campaign consisting of media relations, videos, and other creative communications deliverables including a microsite and social media campaign to highlight the dangers of counterfeit pharmaceuticals and medical devices that are falsely represented as products made or distributed by real pharmaceutical and medical device companies," they added.
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