Counterfeit Ozempic presentations, known as “faux-zempic,” are on the rise in legal and illegal supply chains, The New York Times reported July 12.
After GLP-1s such as Ozempic and Wegovy surged in popularity in late 2022, global organizations and pharmaceutical companies have tried to stamp out phony formulations. As of May, Novo Nordisk has filed 21 lawsuits against medical spas, weight loss clinics and compounding pharmacies over alleged sales of unapproved versions of semaglutide, the active ingredient in Ozempic, Rybelsus and Wegovy.
Experts who study the counterfeit drug market told the Times they are concerned about the climbing demand for these drugs and the fake pharmaceutical supply chain. The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy said it has found thousands of websites selling counterfeit GLP-1 medications — and the FDA has seized thousands of fake Ozempic units.
Tags: Counterfeit Ozempic Healthcare Fraud New Drug Trends
