Pharmaceutical company and federal agency warn consumers not to use the counterfeit medication
By Stephanie Brown HealthDay Reporter
MONDAY, April 21, 2025 (HealthDay News) — The U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk are urging consumers to be on the lookout for counterfeit Ozempic (semaglutide) and to refrain from using the imitation drugs.
Several hundred units of Ozempic injection 1 mg have found their way into the drug supply chain in the United States. The seized counterfeit products display a combination of lot number PAR0362 (an authentic lot number) and illegitimate serial numbers that begin with the following eight digits: 51746517. Only products with this lot number coupled with the erroneous serial number are considered counterfeit products.
The FDA and Novo Nordisk are currently testing the seized products but do not yet have any information regarding the identity, quality, or safety of these drugs. The FDA investigation is ongoing.
Six adverse event reports have been received by the FDA related to this particular lot of Ozempic. However, these reports, all submitted by Novo Nordisk, do not appear to be connected to the counterfeit product.
Pharmacies and patients are urged to double-check their Ozempic box to see if it features the combination of lot number and incorrect serial number. If so, these products are considered counterfeit and should not be used.
Suspicious Ozempic products should be reported to Novo Nordisk or directly to the FDA. In addition, any adverse effects from the use of Ozempic should be reported to the FDA MedWatch Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program and to Novo Nordisk (1-800-727-6500).
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