Britain’s health agency is warning the public not to buy pre-filled pens claiming to contain the weight loss drugs Ozempic and Saxenda without a prescription, after a small number of people were hospitalized.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency said those hospitalized suffered serious side effects, including hypoglycemic shock and coma, indicating the pens may contain insulin rather than semaglutide, the medicine in Ozempic. The agency did not include the condition of those hospitalized.
Ozempic is used to treat adults with type 2 diabetes and is used off-label for weight loss. Saxenda, which contains the drug liraglutide, is licensed in the UK for weight loss. Both medications are only available by prescription.
More than 350 potentially counterfeit Ozempic pens have been seized since January this year, according to the MHRA. The agency has also received reports that patients have obtained fake Saxenda pens in the UK through non-legitimate channels.
No fake weight loss pens were seized before January 2023, the agency said.
The maker of both drugs, Novo Nordisk, told CNN on Thursday that it was aware of the circulation of counterfeit pens.
Novo Nordisk investigates and reports each case of counterfeiting of which we become aware to local authorities, in accordance with applicable regulations, said Allison Schneider, a spokesperson for Novo Nordisk in a statement. Patients can protect themselves by only purchasing medications from legitimate sources and with a prescription from a healthcare professional.
The MHRA also urged affected patients to consult this healthcare provider and ensure they are receiving their medication from a legitimate source. All UK pharmacies, including online ones, must be registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council.
We advise all members of the public not to use pre-filled slimming pens they have purchased online and to report this to us so that we can investigate and take any necessary action, Dr Alison Cave, Head of Safety MHRA. , said Thursday in a statement. Buying products such as Ozempic or Saxenda without a prescription, from suppliers trading illegally, significantly increases the risk of receiving something that is either counterfeit or not authorized for use in the UK.
Earlier this month, the European Medicines Agency also warned that fake Ozempic pens were being sold across the European Union and the United Kingdom.
An example of a fake pen released by German regulators showed several differences from the real product, including different colors, no visible Ozempic branding, and additional numbering printed on the fake version. Regulators warned that it could not be ruled out that the counterfeit would be sold in Germany.
Ozempic and similar drugs used for both diabetes and weight loss are currently in shortage in the United States and Europe. Novo Nordisk warned in June that a counterfeit Ozempic pen had been found in the United States, apparently purchased at a retail pharmacy.
Meg Tirrell of CNN Health contributed to this report.
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