The Federal Trade Commission (FTC) has finalized an order against telemedicine provider NextMed and its principals, Robert Epstein and Frank Leonardo. The order requires the company to stop deceptive advertising practices related to its GLP-1 weight-loss programs.
According to a complaint filed by the FTC in July 2025, NextMed and its leaders took advantage of increased interest in prescription glucagon-like peptide 1 agonist drugs such as Wegovy and Ozempic. The agency said they promoted weight-loss programs with hidden costs and undisclosed membership requirements, made unsupported claims about client results, used fake testimonials, and manipulated consumer reviews. Additionally, the complaint stated that NextMed did not process cancellation or refund requests promptly and charged consumers without obtaining clear consent for recurring payments.
The final order mandates that NextMed, Epstein, and Leonardo pay $150,000. This money is expected to be used for consumer refunds. The order also sets several new requirements for the company:
- They are prohibited from misrepresenting the cost of telehealth services.
- Claims about typical user results must be supported by reliable evidence.
- They cannot falsely represent reviews as truthful or from real customers, and must disclose any unexpected material connections with endorsers or reviewers.
- Manipulation of reviews is banned.
- Informed consent must be obtained before billing consumers or using electronic fund transfers.
- Important terms regarding refunds or cancellations must be clearly disclosed before payment is requested. Consumers must have a simple way to request cancellations or refunds, which should be honored promptly if policies at the time of purchase are met.
After a period for public comment, the Commission voted unanimously to approve the final consent order.
"The Federal Trade Commission works to promote competition, and protect and educate consumers. The FTC will never demand money, make threats, tell you to transfer money, or promise you a prize. You can learn more about consumer topics and report scams, fraud, and bad business practices online at ReportFraud.ftc.gov. Follow the FTC on social media, read our blogs and subscribe to press releases for the latest FTC news and resources," according to an official statement from the agency.
