WHO Issues Alert Over ‘Fake’ Ozempic in UK Supply

Boxes of the diabetes drug Ozempic rest on a pharmacy counter in Los Angeles, Calif., on April 17, 2023. (Mario Tama/Getty Images)

The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued an alert after fake versions of the off-label weight-loss drug Ozempic were found to be in the supply chain of countries including the UK.

Ozempic is a brand of a group of medications known as semaglutide, intended for type 2 diabetics, which have been repurposed as weight-loss drugs due to their ability to regulate blood sugar and reduce cravings, effectively suppressing appetite.

Ozempic is not licensed as a weight loss drug on the NHS, but the so-called “skinny jabs” are easily obtainable privately in the UK for those looking to shift the pounds.

The WHO said in a statement that it had detected three “falsified” batches of the drug in the United States, the UK, and Brazil in 2023, but the warning was only issued on June 20.

“WHO Global Surveillance and Monitoring System (GSMS) has been observing increased reports on falsified semaglutide products in all geographical regions since 2022. This is the first official notice issued by WHO after confirmation of some of the reports,” Dr. Yukiko Nakatani, WHO assistant director-general for access to medicines said in a statement.

“These falsified products could have harmful effects to people’s health; if the products don’t have the necessary raw components, falsified medicines can lead to health complications resulting from unmanaged blood glucose levels or weight.

“In other cases, another undeclared active ingredient may be contained in the injection device, e.g. insulin, leading to an unpredictable range of health risks or complications.”

Ozempic, like the more potent Wegovy—also a semaglutide—and Mounjaro, a member of the tirzepatide family, are usually self-injected under the skin once a week, although they are also available as daily tablets taken orally.

Both Ozempic and Wegovy are made by Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk, while Mounjaro—recently approved for weight loss use on the NHS—is manufactured by U.S. giant Eli Lilly.

‘Off-Label Prescribing’ for Those Not Classed as Obese

Ozempic has been available on the NHS since 2019 but only for type 2 diabetics to manage blood sugar levels.

Wegovy was approved for weight loss on the NHS in 2022 for obese people with at least one weight-related co-morbidity.

However, weight loss jabs can be legally accessed privately through off-label prescribing—a system where medics can prescribe a drug approved in the UK for a different purpose.

There have been global shortages of the drugs as demand has surged, fueled by social media influencers and celebrities sharing their weight loss stories—although these have been tempered with warnings of unpleasant and sometimes severe side-effects, including vomiting, diarrhea, stomach ache, fatigue, headaches, dizziness, and even hair loss.

Drugs Readily Available Online Without Examination

The body issued the warning just one week after the NHS warned that many people—especially younger women—are easily obtaining weight loss drugs online because they want to lose weight for cosmetic reasons, despite being nowhere near the threshold to be classed as obese.

Eating disorder charities such as BEAT have warned the much-hyped drugs are being misused by those suffering from anorexia and bulimia in the same way as laxatives and slimming pills have always been abused.

UK health officials have seized more than 600 potentially fake Ozempic pens across the nation since the start of 2023.

Between January and October 2023, the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) said it seized 369 potentially falsified Ozempic pens and had also received reports of falsified pens of Saxenda—another Novo Nordisk drug currently being trialed on the NHS. The pens were obtained by members of the public through “non-legitimate routes”—meaning the prescription does not come from a qualified professional.

The regulator warned that patients have suffered seizures and have even fallen into a coma after injecting themselves with fake versions being sold at reduced prices online.

The watchdog has said that the counterfeits may not even contain semaglutide, as they are often just insulin pens that have been repackaged to look like the real deal.

But when patients inject themselves, the insulin surge causes a rapid drop in blood sugar, which can be fatal.

The MHRA has urged people to report all suspected counterfeit medicines to its Yellow Card Scheme, as well as side-effects from genuine Ozempic, because the drug is a black triangle medication, meaning it is being monitored more intensely than other medications.

Novo Nordisk has confirmed three batches in circulation purporting to be Ozempic are fake.

The WHO is recommending that people obtain weight loss medications from a licensed medical professional and avoid buying them from online pharmacies, and it is advising people to check the packaging for signs of irregularities that might indicate it is a fake, such as spelling mistakes.

The WHO advises health care professionals, regulatory authorities and the public to be aware of these falsified batches of medicines and to report suspect products to relevant authorities.