Counterfeit diabetes drugs have been in circulation since 2022 a problem affecting all regions of the world, the World Health Organisation (WHO) warned.
The health authority in a statement referred specifically to findings in Britain, the U.S., and Brazil since October 2023.
The drug concerns Ozempic, a medicine containing the active ingredient semaglutide, which is also approved in the EU for the treatment of type 2 diabetes.
The counterfeit version looks identical to the real medicine.
Because the product also suppresses the appetite, it is increasingly being prescribed for weight loss.
But counterfeit drugs may not contain the right amount of active ingredients and could therefore lead to uncontrolled sugar in diabetics, the WHO said.
It added that they may also contain other active ingredients that pose health risks.
The WHO called on doctors, pharmacists, regulatory authorities, and the public to be vigilant.
People should only buy medicines on prescription from pharmacies and not online, the WHO said.
Users should ensure that the dosage scale on insulin pens is displayed correctly, the label looks correct and there are no spelling mistakes on the box, it added.
Diabetes mellitus, often known simply as diabetes, is a group of common endocrine diseases characterized by sustained high blood sugar levels. Diabetes is due to either the pancreas not producing enough insulin, or the cells of the body becoming unresponsive to the hormone’s effects.
Classic symptoms include thirst, polyuria, weight loss, and blurred vision. If left untreated, the disease can lead to various health complications, including disorders of the cardiovascular system, eyes, kidneys, and nerves.
Diabetes accounts for approximately 4.2 million deaths every year, with an estimated 1.5 million caused by either untreated or poorly treated diabetes.
dpa
