A new global warning has been issued over counterfeit versions of a popular weight loss and type 2 diabetes drug, which have been found in three countries.
The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a global alert on counterfeit semaglutide injectionsa best-selling weight loss drug used to treat obesity and type 2 diabetes.
The medical alert concerns three counterfeit batches of the injection, known by its trade name Ozempic, that were found in Brazil, United Kingdom and United States in 2023.
“WHO advises healthcare professionals, regulatory authorities and the general public to be aware of these counterfeit batches of medicines“said Dr. Yukiko Nakatani, WHO assistant director-general for access to medicines and health products.
“We call on interested parties to stop using any suspicious medications and inform the relevant authorities.”
The high demand for these drugs, which are also marketed under the names Wegovy and Rybelsus, has caused a shortageas well as a growing market for counterfeit products.
The cost of medicine has skyrocketed
The drugs They mimic an intestinal hormone that causes the pancreas to produce more insulin and slows down the exit of food from the stomach. The drugs are marketed the Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk.
The WHO warned the population not to buy these drugs from unverified sources. Ozempic and Wegovy are also not currently recommended by the World Health Organization for treating diabetes due to their high cost.
Using fake Ozempic could lead to a “ineffective treatment”according to the WHO, or pose serious or life-threatening risks to the health of patients.
The European Medicines Agency (EMA) warned in October last year that they had found counterfeit prefilled pens in the EU and the UK.
Some patients were hospitalized after using counterfeit versions of the medication, with hypoglycemia and seizures as possible serious side effects.
Eli Lilly also warns consumers
The pharmaceutical company Eli Lilly also warned this week about counterfeiting weight loss drugs. The American company announced that it would undertake legal actions against centers that sold unapproved or compounded versions of tirzepatide, the active ingredient in its medications Mounjaro and Zepbound.
Lilly said she was “concerned about the proliferation of fake or counterfeit products“designed to look like their medications, which are in the same class of drugs as semaglutide.
“Lilly has discovered compounded drugs advertised as tirzepatide with safety, sterility and efficacy problems“said the pharmaceutical company.
“Some have contained bacteria, high levels of impuritiesdifferent colors (pink, instead of colorless), or a completely different chemical structure than Lilly’s FDA-approved medications,” the company warned.
