Counterfeit GLP-1 agonists: Injected Diabetes and Weight Loss Medicine
- Counterfeit reported
Counterfeit weight loss injection medicines, such as Ozempic, have already been found in Australia, Belgium, Ireland, Azerbaijan, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, Nigeria, Turkey, Uzbekistan, Russia, Germany, Austria, the U.K and the United States.
On June 15, 2023 Ozempic maker Novo Nordisk warned that a fake version of the diabetes drug had been found in the U.S. The counterfeit injection pen, which contained insulin instead of semaglutide, was reportedly purchased at a retail pharmacy.
In December 2023, U.S. Food and Drug Administration announced that it had seized "thousands of units" of counterfeit Ozempic, and shared images of the relevant products.
These confirmed fakes are happening alongside an uptick in black market, unauthorized sales of Ozempic and its sister drugs, Wegovy and Rybelsus, on social media platforms and online marketplaces, according to a recent report from the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy, "RogueRX Activity Report: Injectable Weight Loss Drugs: How Illegal Online Drug Sellers Are Taking Advantage of Patients".
Are you worried about whether your Ozempic is genuine? These are Novo Nordisk's tips for how to tell.
Quick links
Fake GLP1-agonists in the news
- “This could be… the end,” FDA warns of counterfeit Ozempic as man says he nearly died from it – WSB-TV Channel 2 - AtlantaApril 25, 2024
- Facebook overrun by fake pharmacies peddling counterfeit drugs like Ozempic | CybernewsApril 17, 2024
- Mum nearly died after using dodgy 'skinny jab' bought on InstagramApril 12, 2024
- The weight loss drugs you’re getting may be fakeMarch 15, 2024
- Wegovy and Ozempic have ignited a gold rush in the pharma industry as well as an upsurge in fake "skinny jabs", leading to hospitalized patientsMarch 13, 2024
Black market semaglutide sales online
(Click to enlarge these images)
Image from a FB ad.
Etsy ad, June 2023
Vial for sale on Etsy, June 2023
Instagram post, June 2023
Saxenda for sale on FB. (i News)
Novo Nordisk on how to identify a fake Ozempic pen
Genuine:
- Genuine Novo Nordisk Ozempic® pens do not extend or increase in length when setting the dose.
- The dose dial window only shows intended doses:
- On the pen intended to deliver 0.25/0.5 mg doses, it only shows -0-, 0.25 and 0.5 once dialed up to the intended doses
- On the pen intended to deliver 1 mg dose, it only shows -0- and 1 mg once dialed up to the intended dose
- On the pen intended to deliver 2 mg dose, it only shows -0- and 2 mg once dialed up to the intended dose
- Authentic Ozempic® pens are currently available in the following configurations:
- 0.25/0.5 mg pen
- 1 mg pen
- 2 mg pen
- The box containing authentic Ozempic® will include 4 needles which attach directly onto the pen, except the Ozempic® 0.25/0.5 mg dose carton which has 6 nee
Counterfeit:
- A counterfeit pen may be identified based on scale extending out from the pen when setting the dose.
- The label on a counterfeit pen could be of poor quality and may not adhere well to the pen.
- A counterfeit carton may have spelling mistakes on the front of the box (i.e., 1pen and 4 doses without space between ‘1’ and ‘pen’) as seen in photo above.
- A counterfeit carton may not include the tamper resistant/perforation.
- The batch number printed on a counterfeit box may not correspond to the product strength stated on the same box and pen.
