Ashland doctor admits to giving patients unapproved weight loss drug

ASHLAND, Ky. (FOX 56) — An Ashland doctor accused of buying and administering a generic version of a popular weight loss drug under the table to unknowing patients has pleaded guilty.

According to the Department of Justice (DOJ), prosecutors reached a plea agreement with Matthew Lewis, 44, owner of Lewis Family Care, in which he admitted to purchasing non-Food and Drug Administration (FDA)-approved semaglutide from unlicensed suppliers in Georgia and California in 2023 to administer to patients at a weight loss clinic.

The FDA has reportedly only approved three drugs with semaglutide as the active ingredient—Ozempic, Rybelsus, and Wegovy—to improve blood sugar levels in patients with diabetes or for weight loss in Wegovy’s case. No generic semaglutide drugs have been approved by the FDA.

The drugs arrived at Lewis Family Care packaged in a vial marked with a warning that the drugs were intended for lab research and development only. According to the DOJ, Lewis reportedly purchased the semaglutide using Venmo, Afterpay, or over the phone and disguised the order’s description as “meal prep.”

The vials were reportedly stored in Lewis’ office, and officials report that his patients were not informed they’d be administered non-FDA-approved semaglutide.

According to the DOJ, Lewis Family Care’s weight loss clinic made $249,044.40 between May 2023 and February 2024.

“Prescription drugs are highly regulated in this country in order to keep patients safe,” said Acting U.S. Attorney Paul McCaffrey. “At a time of increased public interest in weight-loss drugs like Wegovy, Lewis chose profit margins over patient safety when he purchased non-FDA-approved semaglutide and administered it to his patients.”

“Physicians who administer misbranded drugs that come from outside the secure and regulated supply chain—particularly products that are injectable and pose sterility concerns—not only puts their patients’ health at risk but also violate their patients’ trust,” said George Scavdis, special agent in charge, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations, Metro Washington Field Office. “We will continue to pursue and bring to justice those who would disregard and jeopardize public health and safety by selling misbranded drugs.”

Lewis is scheduled to be sentenced on Aug. 18 and faces three years in prison.