Counterfeit versions of Ozempic have been found in Britain, health chiefs said today.
The once-a-week jab, made by Danish pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk, is being offered by the NHS to help patients with type 2 diabetes control their blood sugar levels.
Semaglutide – the generic name for Ozempic – also causes weight loss and deserves praise as a ‘miracle’ weight loss injection.
Bosses at the European Medicines Agency (EMA) today announced that counterfeit versions of Ozempic have hit the market.
It has detected counterfeit 1mg doses of the injectable pens at wholesalers in the UK and EU.
A separate warning from Germany’s Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices states that the fake versions come in packs of three and have an expiration date of July and December 2025.
Wegovy and Ozempic work by causing the body to produce a hormone called GLP-1, which is released naturally from the intestines after meals.
The EMA confirmed today that it is investigating the pens, which came from wholesalers in Austria and Germany.
The fake jabs have batch numbers, barcodes and unique serial numbers copied from genuine Ozempic packages.
But when scanned as part of an EU-wide electronic system, the serial numbers were found to be inactive, alerting authorities that they may be fake.
A separate warning from Germany’s Federal Institute for Drugs and Medical Devices states that the fake versions come in packs of three and have an expiration date of July and December 2025.
It shared the serial and batch codes for the affected products, but warned that they were copied from genuine Ozempic boxes and that the original versions of the drug are safe to use.
As a result, it warned that it is almost impossible to distinguish the real and fake versions from the boxes they come in.
However, the fake injectable pens have a clear rather than gray lid, the bottom of the pen is a slightly darker blue than the original, while the label and dose markings are slightly different.
The EMA said there is no evidence that official pharmacies have distributed the jabs and there have been no reports of harm to patients.
The agency and the police are investigating the situation and have warned pharmacies and wholesalers about the ‘suspicious’ Ozempic packaging.
The UK Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) confirmed that the fake medicines have been identified at two UK wholesalers.
“All affected pens have been recalled and accounted for, and none have been supplied to UK patients,” the report said.
The watchdog said the jabs had been purchased from “legitimate suppliers” in Austria and Germany.
Dr. Alison Cave, MHRA Chief Safety Officer said: ‘We are working closely with global regulatory partners to ensure the UK’s medicines supply chain remains secure, to keep patients safe.
‘Patients can be assured that the products they are using are genuine when they are accessed through legitimate sources.
‘Buying semaglutide from illegal online suppliers significantly increases the risk of obtaining a product that is either counterfeit or not licensed for use in Britain.
‘Products purchased in this way do not meet our strict quality and safety standards, and the use of such medications could endanger your health.
‘Anyone who suspects they have had an adverse reaction to semaglutide or any other medicine, has concerns about its safety or effectiveness, or suspects it is not a genuine product should report it to our Yellow Card system.’
The counterfeit products have emerged amid a global spike in demand for the weight-loss drug, leading to a shortage of the drug, the EMA noted.
Semaglutide – the powerful ingredients behind Ozempic – does ushered in a new era in the war on obesity.
The treatment, loved by Hollywood stars, encourages weight loss by mimicking the action of a hormone released in the gut after eating, called GLP-1.
The GLP-1 hormone not only tells the pancreas to produce more insulin, but it also returns to the brain and makes users feel full.
As a result, semaglutide can keep users from overeating.
Ozempic is available on the NHS as a treatment for controlling blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes. In May it was also approved for weight loss under the Wegovy brand, but has yet to be launched in Britain due to supply issues
In July, the UK Department of Health urged doctors and pharmacists to stop prescribing Ozempic to people who simply want to lose weight.
Health officials warned that the clamor to get their hands on it – and drugs like it – was fueling the national shortage, putting the lives of diabetics at risk.
Ozempic is available on the NHS as a treatment for controlling blood sugar levels in people with type 2 diabetes.
In May, another version of semaglutide was approved for weight loss under the brand name Wegovy. It is not yet widely available in the UK due to supply issues.
The slowdown has led to an increase in “off-label” prescribing – where drugs are dispensed for something other than their intended use – exacerbating shortages.
Although patients are eager to take the medications, it is not without side effects.
Users often complain of nausea, constipation and diarrhea after taking the medication. Less common side effects include altered taste and acute pancreatitis.
MailOnline revealed earlier this year that Novo Nordisk is investigating whether semaglutide could increase the risk of medullary thyroid cancer and pancreatic cancer.
But there is no evidence yet that they are definitely side effects, even in extremely rare cases.
All Britons are urged to report any side effects from medicines they notice to the MHRA’s Yellow Card Scheme.
The EMA is already investigating Ozempic and similar weight loss blockbusters over concerns they could cause users to think about self-harm.
Health chiefs were shocked by reports from Iceland of three patients who had thoughts of self-harm and suicide after taking the injections.
Suicidal thoughts are mentioned as a possible consequence in leaflets already included in the pack.