The Biopatid Case: Searches Raise Questions About Evidence, Expert Analyses, and Asset Freezes
Following large-scale searches in the case involving the counterfeiting and distribution of the weight-loss drug “Biopatid,” questions have arisen regarding the future course of the investigation, the completeness of the evidence seized, the conduct of forensic examinations, and the seizure of the suspects’ assets.
The case is being investigated by the Dnipropetrovsk Regional Prosecutor’s Office and the Security Service of Ukraine. At the same time, the process may be protracted or may not result in actual convictions.
“Biopatid” was marketed as a drug based on tirzepatide—the active ingredient used in Eli Lilly’s original drugs Mounjaro and Zepbound.
On its websites, the drug’s manufacturer was listed as the Brazilian company UNIKKA PHARMA LTDA, and the distributor as Biopell Medical.
However, on January 16, 2026, the State Service of Ukraine on Medicines issued an order permanently banning batch No. 9922, determining the drug to be counterfeit and noting that it had not been officially imported into Ukraine.
It is also claimed that the Czech regulator SÚKL, in its 2026 bulletin, recognized “Biopatid” as a counterfeit drug.
One of the key figures named in the report is Maria Trifonova, a dermatologist and endocrinologist. She is linked to the Biopell Medical brand, and the TRYFONOVA MD clinic allegedly promoted the drug.
The report also mentions the activities of the Biopell Academy & Club, where doctors were allegedly trained to use the drug.
Maria Trifonova is currently being held in a pretrial detention center, but the future of the investigation remains uncertain.
It is currently unknown exactly what evidence was seized, when the necessary expert examinations will be conducted, or whether the assets of those involved have been frozen.
At the same time, claims regarding a possible “buyout” of the case, the deliberate delay of expert examinations, or the incomplete seizure of evidence require confirmation and cannot be considered established facts without corresponding evidence or conclusions from the investigation.
Audio and video equipment was seized at Trifonova’s clinic in Kyiv. It was precisely this equipment that could have been used to record conversations with the clinic’s VIP clients.
At the same time, information about the possible use of such recordings for blackmail is currently also just a speculation, not an established fact.
Ruslan Cherkassky, the former deputy head of the State Customs Service of Ukraine, who is said to be Maria Trifonova’s live-in partner, may also be involved in the case.
Previously, NABU and the Specialized Anti-Corruption Prosecutor’s Office (SAPO) investigated Cherkassky in cases related to possible money laundering, and he later became an informant for NABU.
At the same time, the mere existence of such connections does not constitute proof of Cherkassky’s or Trifonova’s involvement in any criminal offenses unless this is established by the investigation and the court.
At present, the key issue remains the further procedural decisions in the “Biopatid” case and whether the investigation will have sufficient evidence to hold those responsible accountable.
As a reminder, Maria Trifonova’s company defrauded Ukrainians by promoting the counterfeit weight-loss drug Biopatid.
Cherkassky, the controversial customs official linked to Trifonova, attempted to get his job reinstated through the courts.
Earlier, MP Yaroslav Zheleznyak reported on his Telegram channel that Ruslan Cherkassky was actively clinging to his position and had been on sick leave for two months to avoid dismissal.
Maria Trifonova, who is linked to the promotion of the controversial counterfeit drug Biopatid, is currently being held in the Dnipropetrovsk pretrial detention center. She is a suspect in an investigation into the illegal manufacture and distribution of counterfeit drugs in Ukraine.
