HEALTH
FDA Has Seized ‘Thousands Of Units’ Of Counterfeit Ozempic From Legitimate Drug Supply Chain
FDA
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is warning patients, wholesalers, retail pharmacies and healthcare providers that counterfeit Ozempic has been found in the country’s legitimate drug supply chain.
The FDA said Thursday it has seized thousands of units of counterfeit Ozempic (semaglutide) injection 1 milligram (mg). The legitimate version, a diabetes drug from Novo Nordisk, has recently skyrocketed in popularity as a weight-loss drug.
The agency warned patients, pharmacies, and other providers to not distribute, use, or sell products labeled with lot number NAR0074 and serial number 430834149057.
Pharmacies are advised to only purchase Ozempic through authorized Novo Nordisk distributors. Patients are warned to only obtain Ozempic with a valid prescription through licensed pharmacies, and to check for signs of counterfeiting.
The FDA and Novo Nordisk are testing the seized products, and the agency said they do not yet have information about the counterfeit drugs’ identity, quality or safety.
Five adverse events were reported in connection with the counterfeit lot, the FDA said, but they were not serious and were consistent with known common adverse reactions to authentic Ozempic, which are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain and constipation.
The FDA said its investigation is ongoing, and asked consumers and healthcare providers to report any suspected counterfeit drugs or adverse reactions.
TMX contributed to this article.
