Pharmacist suspended after BBC Botox sting

Cornelius Agoye, a pharmacist at Pharma Aesthetics London, received an 18-month suspension following a BBC undercover investigation that exposed illegal Botox sales without proper patient consultations. The investigation captured Agoye instructing an undercover researcher on how to falsify consultation records, admitting to actions that compromised patient safety. He acknowledged that his behavior fell below professional standards and expressed remorse. The report also revealed a troubling trend among healthcare professionals across England, with many nurses and pharmacists ignoring legal requirements to issue Botox without examinations. Experts warned that bypassing these safeguards allows counterfeit and unsafe products into the booming cosmetic market.

The UK botulinum toxin market was valued at £115 million in 2024 and is projected to grow nearly to £295 million by 2031. The General Pharmaceutical Council has imposed an interim order as a full investigation into Agoye's practices continues. Such widespread malpractice raises serious concerns about patient safety in the aesthetics industry.