Several Hospitalized in Austria after Injecting Counterfeit Weight-Loss Drug Ozempic

Counterfeit Ozempic contained insulin instead of active ingredient semaglutide, causing side effects like seizures and low blood sugar; authorities warn counterfeit supplies may still be in circulation.

• Several people in Austria were hospitalized after injecting counterfeit Ozempic, a popular weight-loss drug, which falsely contained insulin instead of the active ingredient semaglutide. This led to serious side effects such as seizures and low blood sugar levels.
• The counterfeit drug was distributed by a doctor from Austria, and authorities warn that stocks of the fake drug may still be in circulation despite the ongoing investigation.
• The increase in the demand for Ozempic, particularly as a weight-loss treatment, has created a shortage, leading to the emergence of a counterfeit market.
• The counterfeit versions of Ozempic have been identified at wholesalers in the UK and the EU, creating concerns over the security of the wider supply chain.
• The Austrian Federal Office for Safety in Health Care has urged doctors and patients to check their supplies, and warned the public against using weight-loss injections from dubious sources.
• The misuse of Ozempic for weight-loss has led to medicine shortages for Type 2 diabetes patients, the original intended recipients of the drug.

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