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, offers to pharmacies come from scammers posing as wholesalers and offering deep discounts on Ozempic pens. According to CBS News, a counterfeit Ozempic pen was put up on the market at a US pharmacy earlier this 12 months reported.
A bunch representing U.S. health care product distributors warned its members via email about a wide range of schemes under FDA investigation 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 keeping 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 analogous drug called Wegovy. Both result in significant weight reduction with the energetic ingredient semaglutide, but are approved for various areas of application. Ozempic is approved to treat type 2 diabetes, while Wegovy is approved to treat obese or obesity.
Earlier this 12 months, the manufacturer of Ozempic and Wegovy beneficial that individuals prescribed these drugs “carefully check their medications” to ensure they're authentic. Novo Nordisk, a drug manufacturer, published Pictures of fake pens and packages are displayed next to the true 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 12 months, 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 have been discovered in pharmacies and through distribution.