FDA says it's seized 'thousands of units' of counterfeit Ozempic
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Updated: 11:10 AM EST Dec 22, 2023
SHORTAGE OF GAME OFFICIALS. MILLIONS OF PEOPLE ARE USING INJECTABLE MEDICATION TO TRY AND LOSE WEIGHT. HERE TO TALK ABOUT THAT IS DOCTOR TODD ELLERIN ACTING CHIEF OF MEDICINE AT SOUTH SHORE HEALTH. GOOD TO SEE YOU, DOCTOR. HEY, DR. T, IT’S GREAT TO SEE YOU SO IF I PUT YOU THE NAMES, HELP ME HERE. BUT THE THREE MOST COMMON BRAND NAMES ARE OZEMPIC, WHERE V AND MAGARO. BUT THEY AREN’T ACTUALLY MEANT FOR WEIGHT LOSS. THEY’RE MEANT TO TREAT DIABETES. SO HOW ARE PEOPLE WHO AREN’T DIABETIC GETTING IT ALL RIGHT, SO LET ME JUST TWEAK THAT A LITTLE BIT. SO OZEMPIC AND MUNJAL ARE DIABETIC MEDICATIONS. OKAY. WE’RE GOVI IS A WEIGHT LOSS MEDICATION NOW, THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN OZEMPIC AND GOVI IS REALLY JUST THE DOSAGE. OKAY, WE’LL GO TO THESE HIGHER DOSAGE. SO WHAT THEY FOUND IS THESE TYPE OF MEDICAL ACTIONS THAT ARE VERY ACTIVE AND EFFECTIVE AT HELPING DIABETICS. WHAT SCIENTISTS AND CLINICIANS HAVE SEEN IS THERE’S ALSO WEIGHT LOSS. OKAY. AND SO THE PHARMACEUTICAL COMPANIES HAVE TAKEN ADVANTAGE OF THAT. AND ARE NOW LOOKING AT THESE FOR CHRONIC WEIGHT LOSS AND WHAT WAS THE FIRST FDA APPROVED MEDICATION ABOUT TWO YEARS AGO NOW. AND AND MUJURU, WHICH YOU HAD MENTIONED, THAT’S ACTUALLY THE FDA IS TRYING TO FAST TRACK THAT FOR APPROVAL. GOT IT. BUT HOW ARE PEOPLE GETTING IT? YEAH, WELL, REMEMBER, IF YOU’RE USING GOVI, THAT’S BEEN APPROVED FOR PATIENTS WHO ARE OBESE, THAT MEANS A BMI, A BODY MASS INDEX OF 30 OR MORE, OR THOSE WHO ARE OVERWEIGHT, BUT ALSO HAVE ADDITIONAL RISK FACTORS LIKE HIGH BLOOD PRESSURE AND DIABETES. SO YOU CAN GET IT THROUGH INSURANCE. OF COURSE, SOME PEOPLE, SOME CLINICIANS ARE ARE PRESCRIBED IT WHAT WE CALL OFF LABEL. SO IT MAY NOT BE FOR A DIABETIC. AND AND THAT’S WHEN WE HAVE TO REALLY JUST BE CAREFUL BECAUSE WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT THESE MEDICATIONS ARE THERE FOR THE DIABETICS AND WE WANT TO MAKE SURE THOSE THE MEDICATIONS ARE THERE FOR THE OBESE PATIENTS. SO IF YOU JUST WANT TO LOSE A FEW POUNDS, THIS IS NOT THE RIGHT MEDICATION BECAUSE THEN THAT HURTS THE EQUITY PIECE. RIGHT. BECAUSE SOME OF THE PEOPLE THAT ARE THE MOST OBESE ARE ALSO THE POOREST, DON’T HAVE ACCESS TO GYMS, DON’T NECESSARILY HAVE ACCESS TO THAT HEALTHY FOOD. SO THESE ARE SUPPOSED TO BE USED IN CONJUNCTION. SO THE MEDICATIONS. DR. T WORK BY SUPPRESSING A PERSON’S APPETITE, RIGHT? MAKING THEM FEEL FULL. IF, YOU KNOW, JUST A BASIC QUESTION, IS THAT A SAFE WAY TO LOSE WEIGHT? YEAH, IT’S A IT’S A FAIR OBSERVATION. I WILL SAY IN GENERAL, I’LL SAY YES. NOW, REMEMBER A FEW THINGS. WEIGHT LOSS OF ABOUT 5 TO 10% OF TOTAL WEIGHT CAN GREATLY REDUCE YOUR RISK OF DIABETES. IF YOU’RE PRE-DIABETIC. IT CAN REDUCE YOUR BLOOD PRESSURE. IT CAN REDUCE YOUR RISK OF CARDIOVASCULAR DISEASE. SO THESE ARE REALLY IMPORTANT. BUT IT’S TRUE THAT, YOU KNOW, YOU WANT TO MAKE SURE THAT YOU’RE GETTING THIS TO THE RIGHT PERSON. AND AND THERE ALSO CAN BE SIDE EFFECTS AS WELL. AND I THINK AND WE’LL TALK ABOUT THAT. WELL, LET’S TALK ABOUT THAT. YEAH. WHAT KIND OF SIDE EFFECTS RIGHT. SO SO NAUSEA AND VOMITING OR GASTROINTESTINAL SIDE EFFECTS ARE COMMON. THERE ARE CONTRAINDICATED ACTIONS TO THESE. IF YOU HAVE A HISTORY OF PANCREATIC TITUS, OR IF YOU HAVE A HISTORY OF THYROID CANCER, A SPECIFIC TYPE OF THYROID CANCER, THEN YOU DON’T WANT TO USE THESE MEDICATIONS. I THINK OVERALL, WHAT I WANT TO EMPHASIZE AT THIS IS ONE AT ADJUNCT TO WEIGHT LOSS. WEIGHT LOSS INCLUDES HEALTHY FOOD IS THE MOST IPORTANT. PHYSICAL ACTIVITY IS IMPORTANT BEHAVIOR MODIFICATION AS WELL. THIS THIS IS USED IN CONJUNCTION. AND REMEMBER ONCE YOU START THESE INJECTIONS AND THESE ARE INJECTIONS, THAT’S ANOTHER, YOU KNOW, SIDE EFFECT. YOU CAN SAY IS INJECTION SITE REACTIONS. BUT ONCE YOU START IT, YOU YOU YOU CAN LOSE UP TO A CERTAIN AMOUNT OF WEIGHT. ONCE YOU’VE ACHIEVED THAT MAXIMAL AMOUNT, THEN YOU PLATEAU. IT DOESN’T MEAN IT DOESN’T IT DOESN’T MEAN IT STOPPED WORKING. IT JUST MEANS YOU’RE NOT GOING TO LOSE ANY MORE WEIGHT. BUT REMEMBER, PEOPLE WHO STOP THESE MEDICATIONS ABOUT YOU GAIN ABOUT TWO THIRDS OF THE WEIGHT. YOU LOST BACK AT ABOUT ONE YEAR. SO IT’S LIKE ANYTHING ELSE, WE HAVE TO KEEP ON IT FOR IT TO CONTINUE TO WORK. ALL RI
FDA says it's seized 'thousands of units' of counterfeit Ozempic
![CNN logo]()
Updated: 11:10 AM EST Dec 22, 2023
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned Thursday that it's seized "thousands of units" of counterfeit versions of the type 2 diabetes drug Ozempic from the U.S. drug supply chain, and it's urging suppliers, pharmacies and patients to use caution. Five people have gotten sick in connection with the products, but none of the cases has been serious, the FDA said.The FDA warns pharmacies, health care systems, wholesalers and patients to double-check their semaglutide products to make sure they are the real thing. One-milligram injectable Ozempic products with lot number NAR0074 and serial number 430834149057 on the box should not be used.The agency and drugmaker Novo Nordisk are testing the fakes to determine whether they're dangerous and to identify what the substance is. The pen label, carton, information for patients and health care professionals, and needles that come with the injectors are also counterfeit, the FDA said. The needles' sterility can't be confirmed, so using them could lead to infection.The FDA reminded patients to get their medication only through state-licensed pharmacies with a valid prescription.Ozempic has been in shortage since a boom in popularity among celebrities who used it to lose weight. Since the popularity of Ozempic and its sister medication for weight loss, Wegovy, have grown, there have been reports of people selling knockoff versions at salons and through social media.Separately, the FDA has also been sending letters to online sellers warning them to stop selling knockoffs. Novo Nordisk has sued to keep medical spas, medical clinics and weight loss clinics from selling fake versions.The FDA said it is working with other federal agencies and Novo Nordisk to remove additional counterfeit semaglutide injectable products.Consumers can call Novo Nordisk at 1-800-727-6500 if they have questions or find fake products. People can also report the counterfeit products to their local FDA consumer complaint coordinator or on the FDA's website.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration warned Thursday that it's seized "thousands of units" of counterfeit versions of the type 2 diabetes drug Ozempic from the U.S. drug supply chain, and it's urging suppliers, pharmacies and patients to use caution. Five people have gotten sick in connection with the products, but none of the cases has been serious, the FDA said.
The FDA warns pharmacies, health care systems, wholesalers and patients to double-check their semaglutide products to make sure they are the real thing. One-milligram injectable Ozempic products with lot number NAR0074 and serial number 430834149057 on the box should not be used.
The agency and drugmaker Novo Nordisk are testing the fakes to determine whether they're dangerous and to identify what the substance is. The pen label, carton, information for patients and health care professionals, and needles that come with the injectors are also counterfeit, the FDA said. The needles' sterility can't be confirmed, so using them could lead to infection.
The FDA reminded patients to get their medication only through state-licensed pharmacies with a valid prescription.
FDA via CNN
The FDA warns against using Ozempic products labeled with lot number NAR0074 and serial number 430834149057 as pictured.
Ozempic has been in shortage since a boom in popularity among celebrities who used it to lose weight. Since the popularity of Ozempic and its sister medication for weight loss, Wegovy, have grown, there have been reports of people selling knockoff versions at salons and through social media.
Separately, the FDA has also been sending letters to online sellers warning them to stop selling knockoffs. Novo Nordisk has sued to keep medical spas, medical clinics and weight loss clinics from selling fake versions.
The FDA said it is working with other federal agencies and Novo Nordisk to remove additional counterfeit semaglutide injectable products.
Consumers can call Novo Nordisk at 1-800-727-6500 if they have questions or find fake products. People can also report the counterfeit products to their local FDA consumer complaint coordinator or on the FDA's website.
