The FDA has issued this urgent alert about counterfeit Ozempic (semaglutide) discovered in the U.S. drug supply chain.
In North Carolina, the FDA and Ozempic’s manufacturer, Novo Nordisk, are urging patients, doctors, and pharmacies to verify their Ozempic prescriptions to ensure authenticity. Novo Nordisk reported that several hundred units of Ozempic injection 1 mg were distributed outside their official supply chain.
You can spot counterfeit products by examining the label. Fake versions combine a genuine lot number, PAR0362, with an illegitimate serial number starting with the first eight digits 51746517. While the lot number itself is legitimate, pairing it with these eight digits signals a counterfeit product, according to the FDA. They warn that these products should not be used.
The FDA and Novo Nordisk are currently testing the counterfeit products to determine their safety. However, neither organization can confirm the contents or quality of the fake Ozempic, posing a potential safety risk to patients.
This isn’t the first warning about counterfeit GLP-1 drugs. Previously, the FBI also raised alarms about fake compounded weight loss drugs circulating on the market.
To stay safe, the FDA advises pharmacies and patients to carefully check their 1 mg Ozempic supply. They recommend comparing lot and serial numbers against the FDA’s list of counterfeits. If you discover a counterfeit product, Novo Nordisk and the FDA encourage you to report it. The manufacturer advises retail pharmacies to source authentic Ozempic (semaglutide) injection 1 mg and other semaglutide-containing medicines through authorized Novo Nordisk distributors.
Meanwhile, the North Carolina Attorney General also issued a warning about fake weight loss drugs. So far, their office has received no reports of counterfeit products.
