World Health Organization issues global alert over fake Ozempic

(NewsNation) — The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a warning about fake weight loss medication claiming to contain the active ingredients in the diabetes drug Ozempic and weight loss treatment Wegovy.

Since 2022, WHO has observed increased reports of falsified semaglutide and other GLP-1 products worldwide; however, this first official notice was issued following confirmation of fake batches in Brazil, the United Kingdom, Northern Ireland and the U.S.

Counterfeits contain unverified ingredients

According to the WHO notice, a supply shortage of diabetes drugs, which are also used for weight loss, has led to a spike in counterfeiting these drugs due to overwhelming demand.

University of Michigan researchers found there was a 594% increase in dispensing of the drugs to adolescents and young adults from 2020 to 2023.

WHO warns that counterfeit GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy, Ozempic, and Mounjaro may lack verified ingredients or raw components, posing health risks.

They may not have the semaglutide, tripeptide or other key ingredients, leading to unmanaged blood glucose levels or weight.

In the U.K., 600 counterfeit Ozempic pens were seized, and at least half a dozen people who used counterfeit products experienced serious adverse reactions. For example, doctors told one woman using another fake pen could have been deadly.

Are FDA-approved manufacturers concerned?

This is a major concern for manufacturers of Food and Drug Administration-approved GLP-1 drugs. Counterfeit batches put patients at risk and economically impact these companies.

On Thursday, Eli Lilly, the maker of Mounjaro, filed six lawsuits in Ohio, Texas, Hawaii and Washington, D.C., alleging wellness centers and medical spas falsely claim their compounded tripeptide is FDA-approved.

Eli Lilly had previously sued nearly a dozen spas and pharmacies. Novo Nordisk, the maker of Ozempic and Wegovy, has filed similar lawsuits.