WHO issues global alert over fake Ozempic

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21-06-2024, 19:30

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INA - SOURCES

The World Health Organization - WHO has issued a warning about fake weight loss medication claiming to contain the active ingredients in the diabetes drug Ozempic and weight loss treatment Wegovy.

According to the WHO notice, a supply shortage of diabetes drugs, which are also used for weight loss, has led to a spike in counterfeiting these drugs due to overwhelming demand.

University of Michigan researchers found there was a 594% increase in dispensing of the drugs to adolescents and young adults from 2020 to 2023.

WHO warns that counterfeit GLP-1 drugs like Wegovy, Ozempic, and Mounjaro may lack verified ingredients or raw components, posing health risks.
They may not have the semaglutide, tripeptide, or other key ingredients, leading to unmanaged blood glucose levels or weight.

In the U.K., 600 counterfeit Ozempic pens were seized, and at least half a dozen people who used counterfeit products experienced serious adverse reactions. For example, doctors told one woman using another fake pen could have been deadly.