WHO Warns of Fake Medications for Diabetes and Weight Loss

Courtesy: (George Frey/Reuters) WHO Warns Against Fake Ozempic and Semaglutide Drugs for Diabetes and Weight Loss.

(The Post News)- The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a warning regarding counterfeit versions of weight loss and diabetes medication, particularly targeting Ozempic, which has gained popularity on social media platforms on June 20.

These falsified semaglutides, a medication class used in some countries to manage obesity and type 2 diabetes, prompted WHO to issue a medical product alert.

The notice pertains to three batches of counterfeit medications belonging to the semaglutide class (specifically, Ozempic brand), which were discovered in Brazil in October 2023, the United Kingdom in October 2023, and the United States of America in December 2023.

The emergence of counterfeit versions of semaglutide, including the popular Ozempic, has drawn significant concern from drug manufacturers like Eli Lilly, prompting both them and the World Health Organisation (WHO) to issue warnings.

In an open letter, Lilly”I was very worried about rising social media posts and the online sales of compoundtripeptidee, the active component of medication Zepbound and Mounjaro. This drug is also called a skinny jab, it’s a fake version of Ozempic- which is known for its ability to be able to make to lose weight.”

Lilly emphasised the unreliability of medications advertised and sold online, echoing previous alerts from Novo Nordisk regarding similar issues with their products.

These fake semaglutide drugs have been identified globally, including instances in the United Kingdom, where they are typically used to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity.

The World Health Organization (WHO) has asked patients to protect themselves by using prescriptions from trustworthy physicians rather than buying from unfamiliar medicine stores.

WHO Indicated that faked medications might result in health difficulties and that counterfeit drugs may have detrimental impacts on people’s health if they lack the required raw materials.

From 2022 onwards, the WHO Global Surveillance and Monitoring System (GSMS) has noted an upsurge in reports of fabricated semaglutide products across all areas. Following the validation of some of the reports, this is the first formal notice from the WHO.