{"id":390087,"date":"2023-12-22T11:12:51","date_gmt":"2023-12-22T16:12:51","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/platohealth.ai\/fda-warns-of-counterfeit-ozempic-drugs-com-mednews\/"},"modified":"2023-12-22T13:02:04","modified_gmt":"2023-12-22T18:02:04","slug":"fda-warns-of-counterfeit-ozempic-drugs-com-mednews","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/platohealth.ai\/fda-warns-of-counterfeit-ozempic-drugs-com-mednews\/","title":{"rendered":"FDA Warns of Counterfeit Ozempic – Drugs.com MedNews","gt_translate_keys":[{"key":"rendered","format":"text"}]},"content":{"rendered":"

Medically reviewed by Carmen Pope, BPharm<\/a>. Last updated on Dec 22, 2023.<\/span><\/p>\n

By Dennis Thompson HealthDay Reporter<\/p>\n

FRIDAY, Dec. 22, 2023 — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has uncovered counterfeit Ozempic<\/a> shots in the legitimate U.S. drug supply chain, and is warning patients to be on their guard.<\/p>\n

The FDA said Thursday that it has seized<\/a> thousands of counterfeit doses of Ozempic, the weight-loss drug manufactured by Novo Nordisk, but warned that more might still be available for purchase.<\/p>\n

Patients, practitioners and pharmacies are specifically warned not to sell or use Ozempic 1-milligram (mg) injections labeled with lot number NAR0074 and serial number 430834149057, the FDA said.<\/p>\n

People in possession of Ozempic doses meeting that description can report the counterfeit product directly to the FDA\u2019s Office of Criminal Investigations, the agency said.<\/p>\n

The agency and the drugmaker are testing the seized products, but don\u2019t yet have any information yet about the fake drugs\u2019 identity, quality or safety.<\/p>\n

Five people have gotten sick from injections of the counterfeit Ozempic, but no cases have been serious, the FDA said.<\/p>\n

The sickened patients all suffered side effects consistent with legitimate Ozempic, like nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, abdominal pain and constipation.<\/p>\n

The rest of the Ozempic injection package is also counterfeit, including the needles, the injection pen label, the carton and the accompanying doctor and patient information, the FDA said.<\/p>\n

Because the needles are counterfeit, their sterility can\u2019t be guaranteed and an injection presents an infection risk to anyone using the fake product, the FDA said. <\/p>\n

In a news release<\/a> issued Thursday, Novo Nordisk encouraged patients to only buy Ozempic through pharmacies.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf a prescription is filled via a major retailer who uses our authorized distributors, Novo Nordisk believes the risk of receiving counterfeit product is minimized,\u201d the company said.<\/p>\n

The FDA seizures took place in warehouses outside the company\u2019s authorized supply chain, Novo Nordisk told NBC News<\/em>.<\/p>\n

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Sources<\/h2>\n