The rising popularity of these weight-loss drugs, driven by media exposure and high demand, has made them a prime target for counterfeiters.
The unprecedented demand for weight-loss drugs, including Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic, is giving rise to a worldwide proliferation of counterfeit versions, as revealed by interviews with law enforcement, anti-counterfeiting, and public health officials conducted by Reuters.
The Pharmaceutical Security Institute (PSI), an industry-supported organization boasting Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly among its members, is actively collaborating with agencies such as Europol, Interpol, U.S. Homeland Security, and firms like Israel’s BrandShield to combat this growing issue.
Ozempic, primarily used to treat diabetes, contains semaglutide, the same active ingredient in the company’s weight-loss drug, Wegovy. Both medications are sought after by individuals aiming to shed excess weight.
Additionally, Lilly’s Mounjaro, presently authorized for diabetes treatment, is anticipated to receive approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for obesity treatment in the coming months. These drugs are currently in short supply due to the global prevalence of obesity and high diabetes rates.
Jim Mancuso, Director of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security’s Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center, commented, “These weight loss drugs are a hot topic right now because they’re on TV and getting a lot of media attention. If I’m a criminal organization, that’s the next opportunity I go ahead and exploit.”
The agencies involved are employing a multi-faceted approach, which includes investigating reports of counterfeit drugs, monitoring e-commerce platforms and social media for illicit offers or advertisements, and providing training for customs officials on identifying counterfeits.
Although Novo emphasizes that Ozempic and Wegovy are intended for diabetes treatment and weight loss respectively, the weekly injection drugs have gained widespread recognition in the U.S. for their off-label use as lifestyle treatments.
Counterfeit Ozempic has been discovered in at least 14 countries, including the UK, Germany, Egypt, and Russia. Several of these nations have issued warnings to pharmacies and consumers to exercise caution, as the contents of these counterfeit drugs remain unknown.
Efforts to combat counterfeit weight-loss drugs are gaining momentum, with Interpol and around 23 other law enforcement agencies collaborating to track these medications.
The rising popularity of these weight-loss drugs, driven by media exposure and high demand, has made them a prime target for counterfeiters. It is imperative that authorities and pharmaceutical companies continue to work together to safeguard public health and combat this emerging threat.