Alleged fake Ozempic puts many in hospital in Austria

Alleged fake Ozempic puts many in hospital in Austria.
The affected patients reportedly experienced hypoglycemia and seizures.

The BASG did not specify the exact number of individuals.

Austria witnessed several individuals being hospitalized after using suspected counterfeit versions of the diabetes medication Ozempic, as reported by the country’s health safety authority.

This marks the first instance of harm to users amid a growing European investigation into counterfeit medicines.

The affected patients reportedly experienced hypoglycemia and seizures, severe side effects that suggest the presence of insulin instead of Ozempic’s active ingredient, semaglutide. The health safety regulator BASG issued a warning regarding this on Monday.

The European Medicines Agency (EMA) at the regional level cautioned about pre-filled injection pens that were falsely labeled as Ozempic last week. The drug, sought after for its weight-loss benefits, has seen a surge in demand.

The manufacturer of Ozempic, Novo Nordisk (NOVOb.CO), has observed a proliferation of fake versions of both Ozempic and its weight-loss medication, Wegovy, both of which are based on semaglutide.

The Danish company has been working to increase production to meet the overwhelming demand.

The heightened demand for Ozempic and other weight loss drugs has triggered a global influx of counterfeit versions. The BASG noted, “It appears that this shortage is being exploited by criminal organizations to bring counterfeits of Ozempic to the market.”

The BASG did not specify the exact number of individuals affected by the counterfeit Ozempic, nor did it indicate the potential long-term effects on their health.

EMA, along with authorities in Germany and the United Kingdom, including prosecutors in southwestern Germany, have been investigating a case in which fake injection pens labeled in German were sold from an Austrian wholesaler to Germany and then to a British wholesaler.

BASG’s description of the counterfeit pens and their dosages align with the information provided by EMA and German authorities. To preserve the ongoing investigation, BASG refrained from providing further details on the case.

Austria’s criminal intelligence service stated on Monday that the affected batch was supplied by an undisclosed physician. It is likely that this person did not acquire the counterfeit items from an authorized pharmacy, and there is a warning that fake injection pens may still be in circulation.

According to the service, It is conceivable that pre-filled pen packs with different nominal strengths may also be affected while the currently suspected counterfeits are in 1-milligram strength packs.

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Alleged fake Ozempic puts many in hospital in Austria

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