Why it’s a problem and how to spot a counterfeit

The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a warning over counterfeit batches of the semaglutide medicines Ozempic (for diabetes) and Wegovy (for obesity).

The alert specifically concerns batches of semaglutide sold under the name Ozempic in several countries, including one batch detected in December 2023 in the United States.

The WHO notes that counterfeit Ozempic has also been detected in Brazil (October 2023) and the United Kingdom (October 2023).

Although fake Ozempic poses real risks, the chances of obtaining counterfeit drugs from reputable sources such as your local pharmacy or directly from the manufacturer are extremely low, says Fatima Cody Stanford, MD, MPH, associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School and specialist in obesity. at Massachusetts General Hospital, both in Boston.

“These entities follow strict regulatory guidelines and quality control measures to ensure the authenticity and safety of medicines,” she says.

Add a Comment

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *