Novo Nordisk has seen significant growth in recent years, largely due to the success of its diabetes medication, Ozempic. However, the World Health Organization (WHO) has now issued an important warning regarding this popular drug.
Illegal Copies
Illegal copies of the diabetes medication Ozempic are circulating in several countries, prompting the WHO to urge patients, pharmacists, and doctors to exercise extra caution.
According to Nyheder24 the WHO has identified counterfeit versions of Ozempic in various countries since 2022, including the United Kingdom, the United States, and Brazil.
Ozempic contains the active ingredient semaglutide and is used to treat type 2 diabetes. It is also known from the weight loss drug Wegovy.
Risk of Counterfeit Medication
The fake versions can be difficult for ordinary consumers to identify, making it crucial to purchase the medication from pharmacies with a prescription from a doctor.
The WHO emphasizes that patients should avoid buying the medication online due to the difficulty in verifying its authenticity.
"The risk of taking illegal copies of Ozempic is that patients do not know what the medication actually contains or if it contains the correct amount of the active substance," stated the WHO.s.
For diabetics, this could mean improper blood sugar regulation, and non-sterile needles and pens pose additional health risks.
To ensure safety, the WHO advises patients to buy medications only from reputable pharmacies and to avoid online purchases unless they can verify the source.This vigilance is necessary to protect against the potential dangers of counterfeit drugs.
