Warning for GPs duped into prescribing fake version of wonder weight-loss drug Ozempic mixed by scammers in a backyard lab

Doctors are being tricked into prescribing fake Ozempic, while scammers rush to produce copies of the highly sought-after weight loss wonder drug in backyard labs.

Consumers are also being warned to be extremely wary if they are offered Ozempic, also known by the compound name semaglutide, on unverified websites, as global drug shortages are driving the production of fake substitutes.

Email and fax advertisements for suspected semaglutide are flooding into the offices of Australian GPs, prompting a warning that some doctors have been fooled into prescribing counterfeit Ozempic products that are not produced by the Danish drug giant’s official manufacturer Novo Nordisk.

Medical watchdog Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) said they are aware of several patients experiencing side effects from taking semaglutide of unknown origin that was mailed to them.

TGA officers raided a Sydney home late last month and seized items suspected of being involved in the production and sale of fake Ozempic.

Semaglutide, along with peptides and human growth hormones, was also seized in a raid on a Melbourne pharmacy earlier in March.

The deputy secretary of the Department of Health and Aged Care, Professor Anthony Lawler, said doctors directing patients to fake medicines ‘constituted a serious breach of trust’.

“Not only were healthcare workers misled into believing this was a legitimate pharmacy, but they then referred their patients to have their prescriptions filled,” he told a website Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP).

‘Clinical judgment should be used in these cases, recognizing that there may be an increased clinical risk to patients when medicines are not assessed by the TGA for safety, quality and efficacy.

‘I would also advise healthcare practitioners to be extremely cautious when receiving unsolicited advertisements, especially by fax, and especially if the source of these advertisements is unknown.

“The TGA will continue to dedicate resources to investigating this matter and taking appropriate enforcement action against anyone found to have broken the law,” Professor Lawler said.

Chairman of RACGP Specific Interests Diabetes Dr. Gary Deed said counterfeiters were “taking advantage of people’s demand for an expensive weight management drug.”

At the end of March, a property in Sydney was raided and items believed to have been used in the production and sale of fake Ozempic were seized.

“It’s about responsibility and trust that the patient is supported, and that there are checks and balances,” he said.

Dr. Deed warned that GPs need to develop a network of trusted pharmacies and actively communicate with them to ensure patient safety.

Ozempic was developed for the treatment of diabetes, but is marketed abroad for weight loss under the brand name Wegovy.

The huge demand for the drug among dieters has led to global shortages that are expected to continue throughout the year.

Dr. Deed said GPs should not put new patients on the drug unless there are compelling clinical reasons to do so and no alternative is available.

The Deputy Secretary of the Department of Health and Aged Care, Professor Anthony Lawler, has warned GPs to be wary of unsolicited advertisements for Ozempic or its parent drug

Chairman of RACGP Specific Interests Diabetes Dr. Gary Deed said GPs need to build a network of trusted pharmacies

“Yes, Ozempic is listed for the treatment of diabetes, but the original drug is TGA listed in different dose forms for the treatment of obesity,” he said.

‘So there are somewhat overlapping but diverse groups seeking access, and supply issues may persist for some time, meaning people with diabetes may still struggle to secure continued supply – not a good outcome.

‘It reminds us that when using off-label medicines, be well informed, inform patients and seek and record consent, reduce your own and the patient’s risks by using well-known and trusted pharmacies to support your patients.’

The TGA has urged GPs to report illegal or questionable practices or suspected non-compliant advertising to the Product Research Department.

.