The World Health Organisation has issued a medical product alert about fake semaglutide medicines.
These medicines are used to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity in some countries.
The alert is about three fake batches of semaglutide products, specifically the brand Ozempic.
These fake medicines were found in Brazil in October 2023, the United Kingdom in October 2023, and the United States in December 2023.
WHO’s Global Surveillance and Monitoring System has seen more reports of fake semaglutide products in different parts of the world since 2022. This is the first official notice from WHO after confirming some of these reports.
WHO Assistant Director-General for Essential Medicines and Health Products, Dr. Yukiko Nakatani, said, “WHO advises healthcare professionals, regulatory authorities, and the public to be aware of these falsified batches of medicines. We call on stakeholders to stop any usage of suspicious medicines and report to relevant authorities.”
Semaglutides, like Ozempic, help people with type 2 diabetes lower their blood sugar levels and reduce the risk of heart problems. These medicines are usually injected under the skin weekly, but they can also be taken as daily tablets. They are also used for weight loss because they suppress appetite.
WHO has noticed more demand for these medicines and more reports of fakes. Fake medicines can be dangerous because they might not have the right ingredients, which can lead to health problems from uncontrolled blood sugar levels or weight issues.
Sometimes, fake medicines may contain other undeclared ingredients, like insulin, causing unpredictable health risks.
Because of their high cost, semaglutides are not part of WHO’s recommended treatments for diabetes management. There are more affordable treatments available that have similar effects on blood sugar and cardiovascular risk.
WHO is working on new guidelines for using GLP-1 RAs, including semaglutides, for treating obesity in adults as part of a broader healthcare model.
To protect themselves from fake medicines, patients should buy medicines with prescriptions from licensed doctors. They should avoid buying medicines from unknown or unverified sources, especially online. They should always check the packaging and expiry dates of medicines. Patients should use medicines as prescribed and store injectable semaglutides in the refrigerator.
WHO urged everyone to be cautious and report any suspicious medicines to the authorities to help stop the spread of fake medicines.
