Counterfeit Ozempic Leads to Global Hospitalizations, FDA Investigating Amidst High Demand

Increased popularity and high cost of semaglutide-based drugs drives surge in counterfeit sales, leading to 31 serious cases worldwide including "tenfold overdoses" and three hospitalizations in the U.S. alone; authorities in Belgium consider banning Ozempic for non-diabetes use due to shortages.

Counterfeit sales of the semaglutide-based drugs Ozempic and Wegovy have led to 31 serious cases worldwide, including three hospitalizations in the U.S., caused by tenfold overdoses from fake weight loss drugs.
Due to the high demand for Ozempic, there are global shortages expected to last for years, prompting officials in Belgium to consider banning it for non-diabetes use to preserve supplies for people with type 2 diabetes.
Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer of Ozempic, has released a guide to help consumers differentiate between genuine and counterfeit pens; the company also had to restrict sales of Wegovy due to the high demand.
Even with a high retail cost, a counterfeit market for Ozempic has developed due to its popularity and effectiveness for weight loss, with many people in the U.S. struggling to have their insurance cover the cost.
A rise in the use of Ozempic has led to serious side effects such as hypoglycemia and seizures in patients, mainly because the counterfeit version falsely contains insulin instead of semaglutide, indicating severe exploitation by criminal organizations.