The U.S. Food and Drug Administration said counterfeit versions of the popular drug Ozempic may still be in the drug supply chain, warning wholesalers, retail pharmacies, health care professionals and patients to be wary of the product.
The FDA said Americans should check their products and remove them from distribution or use if they are found labeled with lot number NAR0074 and serial number 430834149057. The agency said it is continuing to investigate the issue and has successfully seized thousands of counterfeit products, but counterfeit products may still exist in the pharmaceutical supply chain.
“Some counterfeit products may still be available for purchase,” the FDA said. Said In a statement last week.
newsweek The FDA was contacted for comment via email on Monday.
Ozempic and other similar drugs have gained great popularity among people who use them for weight loss. The FDA has not yet approved the drug for use in anti-obesity treatments, and it was only approved in 2017 to treat diabetes. However, another drug containing semaglutide, like Ozempic, Wigovy, has been approved to treat obesity.Both products are manufactured by a Danish company novo nordisk.
The FDA is working with Novo Nordisk to test the seized counterfeit drugs, but said it has not yet determined the nature or safety of the drugs.
But the agency said it was aware of five side effects of the drug.
“None of these are serious and are consistent with known common side effects to genuine products. Ozempicwhich are nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain, and constipation,” the FDA said in a statement.
Officials warned that counterfeit products contain non-authentic needles and pose a risk of infection.
The FDA said, “Based on analyzes completed to date, other confirmed counterfeit parts included in the seized products are the pen label, accompanying health care professional and patient information, and the carton.” .
The medicines regulator urged pharmacies to source Ozempic directly from authorized Novo Nordisk distributors and to take all precautions to ensure the product they receive is authentic.
“Patients should obtain Ozempic only through state-licensed pharmacies with a valid prescription and check the product for signs of counterfeiting before use,” the FDA said.
The agency also encouraged Americans to report any adverse drug effects to regulators.
“Entities, including online sellers, that sell counterfeit or tampered drugs should be reported to FDA,” they said.
Ozempic and Wegovy were extremely popular with celebrities and ordinary consumers alike, which led to a significant increase in sales. novo nordisk's business. The company reported in November that its operating profit had improved by about a third as of September 2023, and sales at its North American business had increased by nearly 50%.
“We are very pleased with our sales growth in the first nine months of 2023, which means we have more than ever “This reflects the fact that people are benefiting from our innovative diabetes and obesity treatments.” statement.
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