False Ozempic: EU Medicines Agency warns of counterfeit diabetes pens
DThe European Medicines Agency (EMA) has warned against counterfeiting of the diabetes drug Ozempic. Counterfeit diabetes pens have appeared in various EU countries and the UK, the EMA said on Wednesday in Amsterdam. The spray with labels in German came from wholesalers in Austria and Germany. However, the department does… The European Medicines Agency (EMA) has warned against counterfeiting of the diabetes drug Ozempic, which is also used as an anti-obesity drug and a means for weight loss. Counterfeit diabetes pens have been found in various EU countries and the UK, with the first appearing in Germany in early October. The EMA does not yet have evidence that legal pharmacies are dispensing counterfeit drugs to patients. The drug manufacturer Novo Nordisk has also reported a significant increase in illegal online sales. In Austria, a patient had to be treated in hospital after taking an allegedly counterfeit diabetes drug, which was announced by the Federal Office for Health Safety (BASG) in Vienna.
Published : 2 years ago by Lewis in Health
DThe European Medicines Agency (EMA) has warned against counterfeiting of the diabetes drug Ozempic. Counterfeit diabetes pens have appeared in various EU countries and the UK, the EMA said on Wednesday in Amsterdam. The spray with labels in German came from wholesalers in Austria and Germany. However, the department does not yet have evidence that legal pharmacies were dispensing counterfeit drugs to patients.
The first fakes appeared in Germany in early October. EU authorities, police and German federal authorities are already investigating. The investigation is centered on a pharmaceutical wholesaler in the southwest of Baden-Württemberg. The 199 packs originally came from an Austrian wholesaler and were delivered to another pharmaceutical dealer in the UK in early September 2023, according to an advertisement from the Freiburg regional council.
According to the EU agency, recent reports of counterfeits of the drug are associated with increased demand for the drug. The active ingredient semaglutide in Ozempic can also be used as an anti-obesity drug. Manufacturer Novo Nordisk has also already announced a significant increase in illegal online sales. In the photographs of the regional council, the injection button at the end of the injection device is gray on the original and blue on the fake.
In Austria, a patient had to be treated in hospital after taking an allegedly counterfeit diabetes drug. This was announced by the Federal Office for Health Safety (BASG) on Thursday in Vienna. The department emphasized that counterfeits of the drug Ozempic, which is also used as a means for weight loss, have not passed quality control. BASG warned that due to “possible contamination and unknown ingredients, these counterfeits could be life-threatening.” No additional information about the patient’s condition was provided.
Topics: European Union