Demand for a weight-loss drug touted by showbiz is surging among wealthy Indians, an alarming trend. Medicines such as Denmark’s Novohe and Nordisk’s Ozempic and America’s Eli Lilly’s Munjaro are illegally entering Indian pharmacies, bypassing regulatory inspections, India Today reported. This was revealed through an investigation.
Pooja and her employer Amit Agarwal of Agarwal Pharma in Delhi’s Mehrauli area admitted to fraudulently importing and selling Ozempic and Munjaro without proper documentation.
The drugs are sourced from Egypt and Dubai, prices vary, and the Dubai version is associated with severe side effects.
Pooja revealed to India Today’s investigative reporter the shady practice of offering Munjaro without bill or MRP.
“Ozempic is available on demand. In fact, it is imported. We do not issue invoices. There is no MRP,” she said. “I’ll show you Munjaro too. Which one do you want?”
Pooja provided the drug in a pack of four syringe pens.
Later, during a video call between the reporter and the store, the reporter revealed the smuggling routes and associated risks, and warned about the Dubai variant, citing reported complications.
“I can take any available injections. How much do you want?” Agarwal asked. “This comes from Egypt and has an Egyptian label on the package. The price is 102,000 rupees.”
He said one brand comes from Dubai and does not have the Egyptian label, but prices range from 19,000 rupees to 18,500 rupees.
“We have received complaints that the Dubai version has severe side effects and causes complications in patients. It is not recommended. It significantly lowers the patient’s blood pressure.”
Further investigation yielded similar findings at AV Pharma in Delhi’s Chandni Chowk, where Vivek admitted to selling Ozempic smuggled through Egypt without proper labeling and MRP.
“The price of Ozempic is Rs 23,000 per injection (pack),” Vivek said.
“How many doses are there?” the reporter asked.
“One injection gives 4 doses. We sell 2-3 units a day. Most are made to order, so we don’t have them in stock. Egypt’s MRP is listed, not India’s MRP. ” replied Vivek.
Manish, Magoo Pharmacy in Bhagirath Palace, was selling various Ozempic at Rs 17,000 per injection.
“Will you take the Ozempic injection?” the reporter asked.
“The price is Rs 17,000,” Manish replied and agreed to supply five pieces without invoice.
Regulatory approval in the United States
U.S. drug regulators approved Ozempic in 2017 to treat diabetes, and a higher-dose variant under the brand Wegovy to treat obesity in 2021.
However, Munjaro is also approved for diabetes and is often used off-label for weight loss.
These drugs have common side effects, mainly gastrointestinal problems.
Dr. Ambrish Mittal, Head of Endocrinology and Diabetes at Max Healthcare, cautioned against using these drugs without proper medical supervision and highlighted the risks associated with illicit procurement and off-label use.
Not officially available in India
“The important thing here is that the drugs you mentioned like Wegovy, Ozempic, Mounjaro are not officially available in India yet and it is very important for us to understand that,” Dr. Mithal said. “So you shouldn’t choose these drugs because you’re overweight and you want to lose weight. Then you go to see a specialist, you see an endocrinologist, you see a doctor, and they say, ‘These drugs… Is this right for me?’
Reports of counterfeit versions of these medicines have further heightened concerns, prompting health authorities and pharmaceutical companies around the world to issue warnings.
“They can cause significant nausea in many patients, sometimes vomiting. Now, the other thing is that people with a history of pancreatitis shouldn’t take these drugs. People with a history of phagocytic nodules should also not take these drugs,” Dr Mittal said.
