Stay up to date with notifications from The Independent

Notifications can be managed in browser preferences.

FDA warns that counterfeit Ozempic is flooding US supply chain

Officials have seized thousands of counterfeit units

Michelle Del Rey
Saturday 23 December 2023 00:24 GMT
Comments
FDA Warns of Fake Ozempic Drugs

Your support helps us to tell the story

From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.

At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.

The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.

Your support makes all the difference.

The Federal Drug Administration is warning consumers against using counterfeit Ozempic, a diabetes drug that is now widely used for weight loss.

According to the agency, the US government has already seized thousands of units of the drug and some of the products may still be available for purchase.

The FDA has released a warning advising wholesales, retail pharmacies, health care practitioners and patients to check their products and not distribute, use or sell ones with a lot number NAR0074 and serial number 430834149057.

The needles in the sample are also counterfeit, according to health officials, posing a risk of infection for patients who use the fake products.

Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer of the drug, and the FDA are testing the seized products but don’t yet have information regarding their identity, quality or safety, the release states.

“FDA takes reports of possible counterfeit products seriously and works closely with other federal agencies and the private sector to help protect the nation’s drug supply, the FDA said in a statement.

“FDA’s investigation is ongoing, and the agency is working with Novo Nordisk to identify, investigate and remove further suspected counterfeit semaglutide injectable products found in the US.”

The agency has identified five adverse events from the seized products, including nausea, vomiting, diarrhoea, abdominal pain and constipation. The symptoms are not serious and consistent with reactions to authentic Ozempic.

According to an analysis released earlier this year by Trilliant Health, US medical professionals wrote more than nine million prescriptions for Ozempic and other diabetes and obesity drugs in the last three months of 2022.

Join our commenting forum

Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies

Comments

Thank you for registering

Please refresh the page or navigate to another page on the site to be automatically logged inPlease refresh your browser to be logged in