October 6, 2023 – Counterfeit versions of the weight-loss drug Ozempic are appearing in a wide range of schemes, and sometimes the fraudulent offers are extremely realistic, a health trade group warned its members this week.
In some cases, the offers at pharmacies come from scammers posing as wholesalers and offering deep discounts on Ozempic pens. A counterfeit Ozempic pen was put up on the market at a US pharmacy earlier this yr, CBS News reports. reported.
A bunch representing U.S. health product distributors sent its members an email warning them about a wide range of schemes being investigated by the FDA which might be related to Ozempic and counterfeit versions of the drug.
“The sellers provide sufficient information and documentation to make it appear that the transaction is legitimate,” the alert said, in line with CBS News. “The transaction requires full or partial prepayment via wire transfer, non-disclosure agreements, purchase account setup, and occasionally fraudulent transaction statements.”
The fraudulent offers are fueled by high demand for weight reduction drugs in addition to shortages of Ozempic and an identical drug called Wegovy. Both result in significant weight reduction due to the energetic ingredient semaglutide, but are approved for various uses. Ozempic is approved to treat type 2 diabetes, while Wegovy is approved to treat chubby or obesity.
Earlier this yr, the manufacturer of Ozempic and Wegovy advisable that folks who were prescribed these medications “carefully review their medications” to make sure they're authentic. Novo Nordisk, a drug manufacturer, was released Pictures of fake pens and packages are displayed next to the actual packages. Signs that a pen or pack could also be counterfeit include:
- Non-traditional dosages are scaled on the pen.
- Poor quality label that doesn't adhere well to the pen itself.
- Spelling errors on the packaging.
Earlier this yr, the FDA warned that counterfeits containing compounded semaglutide, or in some cases a salt version of semaglutide, is probably not protected.
According to CBS News, illegal counterfeits have been found around the globe, from Nigeria to Australia. The industry group's warning noted that the inauthentic pens were discovered in pharmacies and through distribution.