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Counterfeits of Anti-Obesity Medication & Weight Loss Drug Ozempic Reported
December 14, 2023
Navigating the choppy waters of weight loss, consumers are either willingly or unknowingly using unofficial replicas of the diabetes medication, Ozempic, repackaged as an anti-obesity solution. For some, the global shortage of official Ozempic medication is making them turn to an off-brand, compounded version, manufactured by local pharmacies.
This issue is on the rise in Australia and has many turning toward unauthorized versions of diabetes drugs like Ozempic and Mounjaro. Compounding pharmacies — operating under the radar — have been catering to this demand, producing and shipping these alternatives for popular anti-obesity medications nationwide. However, this is not isolated in Australia, as the U.S. has begun discovering counterfeit pens of these weight loss drugs in circulation. These counterfeit drugs pose dangerous health risks.
A significant development in this landscape is the major telehealth startup, Eucalyptus, gearing up to sell its version of compounded semaglutide, prepared with stringent safety measures. This move has created ripples amongst regulators and pharmaceutical companies that hold the original patents.
The increasing use and popularity of compounded versions of semaglutide and tirzepatide (found in Mounjaro) can be traced back to the worldwide shortages of these drugs. However, the regulatory standpoint presents a different perspective. According to Australia’s medicine regulator, Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), only Novo Nordisk is permitted to supply products containing semaglutide. The TGA has pointed out that compounded medications haven’t undergone thorough scrutiny for safety, quality, and efficacy.
Presently, compounding pharmacies can manufacture custom pharmaceuticals for patients who can’t access commercially produced alternatives. However, with a surge in demand for diabetes medications for weight loss, these pharmacies are now mass-producing these alternatives. The TGA warns these pharmacies of potential legal complications for mass production in anticipation of patient needs.
These pharmacies operate in a regulatory gray area but advocate for their services, stressing their strict adherence to TGA and the Pharmacy Board’s guidelines. They argue that their offerings provide Australians with essential medication in times of scarcity.
However, official manufacturers caution against using and prescribing these unofficial versions of their drugs. It’s crucial to tread cautiously while dealing with these alternatives, keeping in mind both regulation and health implications.
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