Is Your Weight-loss Medication Genuine? Demand For Drugs From Novo Nordisk And Eli Lilly Leads To Surge In Counterfeits

As obesity rates climb worldwide, so does the demand for weight-loss medications like Novo Nordisk's NVO Ozempic and Eli Lilly And Company's LLY Mounjaro. 

This heightened demand, however, has spurred a troubling rise in counterfeit drugs, law enforcement and health officials reveal, according to a news report by Reuters.

Entities like the U.S.-based Pharmaceutical Security Institute (PSI) have been at the frontline, collaborating with global agencies such as Europol, Interpol and U.S. Homeland Security. They're buttressed by companies like BrandShield in Israel, which has assisted in identifying fake products.

Their strategies are multifaceted: investigating complaints, scouring e-commerce platforms and social media for counterfeit drug sales, and educating customs officials on recognizing these dangerous dupes.

More Than a Weight Issue

At the heart of this disturbing trend are medications like Novo's Ozempic and Wegovy, and Lilly's Mounjaro. Originally developed for diabetes management, these drugs have found a secondary market among those desperate to lose weight.

Their popularity, partly fueled by media buzz, has not escaped the notice of criminal organizations, according to Jim Mancuso, director of Homeland Security's Intellectual Property Rights Coordination Center.

Also Read: Popular Weight Loss Drugs Ozempic and Wegovy Alert: FDA Adds Intestinal Blockage Warning

NVO And LLY At The Forefront

Novo told Reuters in a statement that it works closely with PSI and other organizations to "share data accurately and provide an informed picture on the status of these crimes" and cooperates with law enforcement and other authorities.

Lilly's strategy, on the other hand, includes preventing major counterfeiters of its products through investigations, internet monitoring, legal actions and partnering with government and non-government organizations and trade associations.

A Global Snare

The reach of these counterfeit medications is alarmingly wide. 

Officials have reportedly intercepted fake Ozempic in over a dozen countries, including the U.K., Germany, Egypt and Russia, prompting many to issue urgent advisories to pharmacies and the public.

A spokesperson from the World Health Organization warned that these bogus products present significant health risks, Reuters noted.

Last week, Germany's national drug watchdog called for increased alertness among pharmacies and drug suppliers after identifying bulk consignments of counterfeit Ozempic.

The U.K.'s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency additionally reported a surge in cases of suspected fake GLP-1s, a drug category encompassing Wegovy, Ozempic and Lilly's diabetes medication Mounjaro, with the number of reports escalating from just two in 2022 to around 20 this year.

Similarly, Ireland's Health Products Regulatory Authority informed Reuters of the seizure of 233 instances of fraudulent semaglutide this year, a stark increase from the 32 units intercepted in 2022.

This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.

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