Several people in Austria were treated at a hospital after using what government officials say is counterfeit Ozempic, underscoring concerns in parts of Europe that fake versions of the diabetes drug are circulating.
Ozempic started trending this year as celebrities, TikTok influencers and others described using it to lose weight quickly. It was first approved by the Food and Drug Administration in 2017 to treat diabetes. A similar drug called Wegovy, which contains a higher dose of Ozempics’ active ingredient semaglutide, was approved in 2021.
European officials recently warned that Ozempic’s growing popularity was resulting in limited availability for diabetic patients, leading criminal organizations to exploit the shortage by marketing fake injector pens.
Patients treated in Austria reported serious side effects like hypoglycemia and seizures, indicating that the product most likely contained insulin instead of semaglutide, authorities said.
Austria’s Federal Office for Healthcare Safety did not immediately respond to a request for comment Tuesday regarding the patients’ status, but authorities said the fake pens, with a strength of one milligram, came from probably from a source other than a pharmacy. .
Stocks from the affected batch may still be in circulation or may have been obtained by other doctors via this illegal channel, a statement said. Patients who obtained Ozempic pre-filled pens directly from physicians not responsible for in-house pharmacies should contact them immediately.
In Britain, the regulatory agency that oversees all medicines and medical devices confirmed last week that falsely labeled Ozempic pens had been identified at two unidentified wholesalers.
The pens were imported into Britain from legitimate suppliers in Austria and Germany, officials said, adding that all the pens were recovered and none were distributed to patients.
The European Medicines Agency issued a similar notice last week, saying it was helping national authorities with their investigations. Medicine distributors across the European Union have also been alerted.
Despite Ozempic’s popularity, the drug has its limitations: Patients will inevitably reach a plateau when using it for weight loss. Doctors say some people take Ozempic, and other similar drugs, to lose as much weight as possible and are upset when they stop. Others stop taking medications when they reach a plateau and will tend to gain weight again.
If the drug can melt away the pounds, it can have serious side effects: facial aging, intense lack of appetite leading to malnutrition, or even loss of muscle mass.
Older patients taking medications may have additional concerns. According to experts, the more muscle a person over 65 loses, the more likely they are to become frail or suffer a fracture or fall. Maintaining muscle mass is crucial to staying mobile and independent.
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