Counterfeit Ozempic flooding online markets, warns WHO

The World Health Organization (WHO) reports that counterfeit versions of medications used to treat diabetes and obesity are being offered online. These drugs may be harmful to health. The original medication is prescription-only, but due to its growing popularity, it is often counterfeited.

The drug's trade name is Ozempic. It contains semaglutide, which is used to treat type 2 diabetes, but it has also proven effective for weight loss.

Although the medication is available strictly by prescription, incidents of counterfeiting are increasing. According to the WHO, fake Ozempic has already been detected in European countries such as the United Kingdom and Northern Ireland, as well as in the USA and Brazil.

Dr Yukiko Nakatani, WHO deputy director-general, emphasised that the WHO informs healthcare workers, regulatory authorities, and patients to be aware of counterfeit batches of the drug.

The World Health Organization recommends avoiding the use of suspicious drugs and purchasing medications from unknown or unverified sources, such as the Internet.

The organisation notes that counterfeit drugs can have harmful effects on health. Fake products may either not contain enough of the active substance or may include ingredients such as insulin.

Semaglutide is prescribed to people with type 2 diabetes. The substance aims to lower blood sugar levels and also reduces the risk of cardiovascular events.

Products containing this substance also suppress appetite, which is why they are prescribed for weight loss in some countries. Semaglutide-based medications are not part of the WHO-recommended range of drugs used for diabetes treatment due to their high cost.