A new global warning was issued over falsified versions of a popular weight-loss and type 2 diabetes drug. The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a global warning about falsified injections of semaglutide, a blockbuster weight-loss drug that is used to treat obesity and type 2 diabetes. The medical alert concerned three falsified batches of the injection, known by its brand name Ozempic, which was found in Brazil, the UK, and the US in 2023.
"WHO advises healthcare professionals, regulatory authorities and the public be aware of these falsified batches of medicines," said Dr Yukiko Nakatani, WHO's assistant director-general for access to medicines and health products. "We call on stakeholders to stop any usage of suspicious medicines and report to relevant authorities". High demand for these drugs, which are also marketed under the names Wegovy and Rybelsus, has led to a shortage and a growing market for counterfeits.
The drugs mimic a hormone in the gut that makes the pancreas produce more insulin and slow down the food from leaving the stomach. The drugs are marketed by the Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk. The WHO warned people not to buy the drugs from unverified sources.
Ozempic and Wegovy are also not currently recommended by the global health agency to treat diabetes due to their high cost. Using fake Ozempic could result in "ineffective treatment," the WHO said, or pose serious or life-threatening risks to patients' health The European Medicines Agen.
