Fake Ozempic seized in UK and Americas prompts world health warning

Patients are being advised to avoid 'unfamiliar or unverified sources, such as those that may be found online'

Fake batches of Novo Nordisk’s drug Ozempic have been circulating. AP

Fake batches of Novo Nordisk’s diabetes drug Ozempic have been circulating amid soaring demand for the medicine that can be used for weight loss, the World Health Organisation said on Thursday.

The organisation said three fake batches were identified in Brazil and the UK in October last year and in the US in December.

It is the first time the global health body has issued an official warning, although it has been monitoring growing reports of phoney semaglutide, as Ozempic is known generically, since 2022.

The counterfeit products could harm patients’ health because they do not contain the correct ingredients, and in some cases they may even contain a different drug – such as insulin – which could be dangerous when taken incorrectly, the WHO said.

Ozempic is a diabetes treatment; semaglutide is sold for obesity under the brand name Wegovy.

Fake weight-loss drugs are a growing concern as demand for the medicine feeds a ballooning grey market.

Lose weight the healthy way - in pictures

Walking briskly on the treadmill for 30 minutes can help a person burn about 150 calories. Sarah Dea / The National

A sedentary life can lead to weight gain and health problems, so doctors recommend walking every day. Sarah Dea / The National

Exercising outdoors is a good way to lose weight, especially in the winter months when the weather is good. Khushnum Bhandari / The National

A healthy diet is essential for good health and nutrition. Getty Images

Running is an excellent form of exercise for weight loss. Getty Images

Meditation and yoga support stress management, mental health, mindfulness, weight loss and quality sleep. Getty Images

In the US, regulations allow compounding pharmacies to sell copy versions of the drugs because they are in shortage.

Novo and its US rival Eli Lilly have sought to link the compounded medicines with the possibility of outright counterfeits.

Lilly said on Thursday that some compounded medicine contained a different chemical than the Food and Drug Administration-approved medicine.

Patients should avoid “unfamiliar or unverified sources, such as those that may be found online", the WHO said.