European and French health authorities have alerted pharmacists to the proliferation of injection pens falsely labeled as Ozempic, a diabetes drug abused for weight loss that is very popular on social networks.
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“As a precaution, we urge all actors in the supply chain to be vigilant,” the National Medicines Safety Agency (ANSM) wrote in a briefing note for community and hospital pharmacists on Monday.
“At this point, no alarm has been reported in France,” but it is “important to check the traceability of the serial number” upon delivery, stresses the ANSM.
According to the European Medicines Agency (EMA), “pre-filled pens incorrectly labeled as Ozempic (semaglutide, 1 mg, solution for injection), a medicine used to treat type 2 diabetes, were discovered at certain wholesalers in Europe.” Union and the UK”.
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According to the EMA, these counterfeit pens with the German marking were identified at dealers in Germany, Austria and the United Kingdom, explaining that there are “external differences between the counterfeit pen and the genuine pen.”
The batches of counterfeit Ozempic showed inactive serial numbers on the scanner, which triggered the alarm.
The situation is currently being investigated by the EU medicines authorities and the police, emphasizes the EMA.
There is currently “nothing to suggest that pharmacies have been handing out counterfeit pens to patients,” she says.
The injectable antidiabetic drug Ozempic is gaining popularity on the networks due to its weight-loss properties, even if it is not indicated for medical use.