This photograph combo supplied by means of the U.S. Meals and Drug Management displays an original Ozempic needle (left) and a counterfeit needle (proper). The FDA stated it has seized “1000’s of gadgets” of counterfeit Ozempic, the diabetes drug broadly used for weight reduction, that have been disbursed via reputable drug provide assets.

FDA by means of AP

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FDA by means of AP

This photograph combo supplied by means of the U.S. Meals and Drug Management displays an original Ozempic needle (left) and a counterfeit needle (proper). The FDA stated it has seized “1000’s of gadgets” of counterfeit Ozempic, the diabetes drug broadly used for weight reduction, that have been disbursed via reputable drug provide assets.

FDA by means of AP

1000’s of counterfeit gadgets of Ozempic injections had been found out within the reputable provide chain and seized, the Meals and Drug Management says, however some pretend merchandise would possibly nonetheless be in stream.

Novo Nordisk, the Danish pharmaceutical corporate that manufactures Ozempic, which has develop into wildly fashionable for weight reduction, is operating along the FDA to check the seized medication, however haven’t begun to announce any high quality or protection findings, in line with a Thursday information unencumber.

The FDA stated it is “conscious about 5 antagonistic occasions from this lot, none of which might be severe and are in keeping with recognized commonplace antagonistic reactions to original Ozempic, which might be nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, belly ache and constipation.”

The FDA is caution wholesalers, pharmacies, well being care practitioners and sufferers alike to test their product labels for counterfeit gadgets and file questionable merchandise to the company. Fakes are categorised with lot quantity NAR0074 and serial quantity 430834149057, it says.

Even the needles within the pretend gadgets are counterfeit. The FDA says it can not verify whether or not the needles are sterile or now not, which poses an larger possibility of an infection for customers.

Footage at the FDA information unencumber display examples of original and counterfeit merchandise so customers can spot the fakes.

Novo Nordisk reported over $24.5 billion in gross sales within the first 9 months of 2023, and a couple of 3rd of this is attributed to Ozempic. The weekly injection is licensed for reducing blood sugar ranges in sufferers with Kind 2 diabetes. Then again, its build up in recognition is credited to its talent to quell meals cravings by means of its energetic element, semaglutide, in line with the College of California-Davis.

The FDA has now not licensed Ozempic for weight reduction, however some other Novo Nordisk drug using semaglutide, Wegovy, used to be licensed in 2021 for weight control.