Australians and healthcare professionals are being urged to verify the authenticity of Ozempic products following the detection of counterfeit injection pens at the Australian border. These counterfeit pens, notably identified with the batch number MPSD916, have been confirmed as illegitimate by Novo Nordisk, the manufacturer of Ozempic, according to a statement from the Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA).
The fake products closely resemble genuine items, yet display notable discrepancies in their packaging, such as typographic errors and irregularities in the text formatting. Due to the lack of assessment for quality, safety, or efficacy from Australian health authorities, these counterfeit pens potentially pose significant health risks and should not be used.
The TGA has issued a specific alert concerning the Ozempic 1mg pen with the aforementioned batch number. Individuals in possession of these counterfeit pens are encouraged to return them to local pharmacies for safe disposal. Those who have any health concerns or questions regarding their Ozempic products should consult their healthcare provider.
This warning follows a previous alert from September over counterfeit Ozempic-labeled pens, which resulted in one person being placed in a life-threatening condition. Furthermore, Australians are reminded to exercise caution when purchasing Ozempic online, as unsafe practices can lead to significant health hazards.
The TGA advises consumers to exclusively procure medicines from trusted sources and to seek guidance from healthcare professionals or registered pharmacies if uncertainties arise. They are actively monitoring and verifying batch numbers to combat counterfeiting and are collaborating with border control to prevent future imports of counterfeit drugs into the country.
Border control authorities have been instructed to seize and destroy any counterfeit Ozempic products that are intercepted. This collective effort aims to ensure the safety and wellbeing of the public against fraudulent medicine.