The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has issued a warning about counterfeit Ozempic (semaglutide) drugs in the U.S. supply chain. Both the FDA and the drug’s manufacturer, Novo Nordisk, are urging consumers, doctors, and pharmacies to carefully check their Ozempic prescriptions for authenticity.
Novo Nordisk has confirmed that several hundred units of the 1 mg Ozempic injection have been distributed outside their official supply chain. The company and the FDA have identified counterfeit versions that can be recognized by their labels. The fake labels combine an authentic lot number, PAR0362, with a counterfeit serial number beginning with 51746517. According to the FDA, any Ozempic package showing both this lot number and serial number should be considered fraudulent and unsafe for use.
Both Novo Nordisk and the FDA are currently testing the counterfeit products to assess their safety. However, they cannot confirm the contents or quality of the fakes, which may pose significant health risks to patients.
This warning is part of a broader concern over counterfeit GLP-1 drugs, including weight loss medications. The FBI has also alerted the public about fake compounded weight loss drugs. To protect themselves, the FDA is urging patients and pharmacies to double-check their 1 mg Ozempic supply by comparing lot and serial numbers to those identified as counterfeit.
If counterfeit products are found, both the FDA and Novo Nordisk request that they be reported. Novo Nordisk advises pharmacies to only purchase Ozempic (semaglutide) 1 mg and other semaglutide-containing medications through authorized distributors.
Additionally, the North Carolina Attorney General has issued a similar warning regarding counterfeit weight loss drugs. To date, the office has not received any reports of counterfeit drugs being found in the state.
Consumers are urged to stay vigilant and report any suspicious products to the authorities.
