WHO warns of dangerous counterfeit Ozempic circulating in Europe, Americas

GLOBAL – The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued an alert regarding the circulation of counterfeit versions of Novo Nordisk’s blockbuster type 2 diabetes drug Ozempic (semaglutide) in Europe, the Americas, and other regions.

This comes amid soaring demand for the medication, which some patients also use off-label for weight loss purposes, along with other GLP-1 drugs like Eli Lilly’s Mounjaro (tirzepatide) and Zepbound (tirzepatide).

According to the WHO, three falsified batches of Ozempic were identified in Brazil and the UK in October 2023, and in the US in December 2023.

Although the global public health body has been monitoring increasing reports of fake semaglutide since 2022, this is the first time it has issued an official warning notice.

The WHO emphasized that counterfeit products could pose serious health risks to patients, as they may contain incorrect ingredients or even different drugs such as insulin, which could be dangerous if taken incorrectly.

The organization advised healthcare professionals, regulatory authorities, and the public to be aware of these falsified batches and to avoid purchasing medicines from unfamiliar or unverified sources, particularly online.

The alert comes as both Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly have been taking legal action against unapproved sellers of their diabetes and weight loss drugs.

On the same day the WHO issued its warning, Eli Lilly released an open letter stating it is seeking legal action against several medical spas, wellness centers and various clinics that are selling products claiming to contain tirzepatide for cosmetic weight loss.

Novo Nordisk has also been pursuing 12 lawsuits of its own – it settled two against a med-spa and a clinic in Florida earlier this year.

The surge in demand for Ozempic and other GLP-1 drugs has led to global shortages, fueling a growing market for counterfeit versions.

Ozempic generated around US$14 billion in revenue for Novo Nordisk in 2023, accounting for 41% of the company’s total sales.

The WHO does not currently recommend semaglutide for diabetes management due to its high cost, but is working on rapid advice guidelines for its potential use in obesity treatment and as part of a more comprehensive model of care.

WHO assistant director-general for access to medicines and health products Dr Yukiko Nakatani said: “WHO advises healthcare professionals, regulatory authorities and the public [to] be aware of these falsified batches of medicines.

”We call on stakeholders to stop any usage of suspicious medicines and report to relevant authorities.”

The WHO’s alert highlights the growing problem of counterfeit medicines, particularly in the context of high-demand drugs like Ozempic.

As the global health community works to address this issue, patients are urged to be cautious when obtaining medications and to only purchase from licensed and verified sources.

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