Urgent warning over fake Ozempic jabs found in UK as officials reveal how to tell if fat-busting injection is genuine

Fake versions of Ozempic have been found in the UK, health chiefs revealed today.

The once-weekly vaccine, manufactured by Danish pharmaceutical giant Novo Nordisk, is offered on the NHS to help patients with type 2 diabetes control their blood sugar levels.

Semaglutide, the generic name for Ozempic, also causes weight loss, earning it praise as a “miracle” slimming injection.

Heads of the European Medicines Agency (EMA) announced today that counterfeit versions of Ozempic have entered the market.

It has detected counterfeit 1mg doses of injection pens at wholesalers in the UK and EU.

Wegovy and Ozempic work by causing the body to produce a hormone called GLP-1 that is released naturally from the intestines after meals.

The EMA confirmed today that it was investigating the pens, which came from wholesalers in Austria and Germany.

The fake jabs have unique lot numbers, barcodes and serial numbers copied from genuine Ozempic packages.

But when scanned as part of an EU-wide electronic system, the serial numbers were shown to be inactive, alerting authorities that they were potentially fake.

A separate warning from Germany’s Federal Institute for Medicines and Medical Devices claims that the fake versions come in packs of three and have an expiration date of July and December 2025.

It shared the serial and lot codes of the affected products, but warned that they have been copied from real Ozempic boxes and that the original versions of the drug are safe to use.

As a result, he warned that it is almost impossible to distinguish the real and fake versions from the boxes in which they are found.

However, fake injectable pens have a clear cap instead of grey, the base of the pen is a slightly darker shade of blue than the original, while the label and dosage markings are slightly different.

The EMA said there is no evidence that any official pharmacy administered the injections and there have been no reports of harm to patients.

The agency and police are investigating the situation and have warned pharmacies and wholesalers about the “suspicious” Ozempic packaging.

The UK’s Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) confirmed that counterfeit medicines have been identified at two UK wholesalers.

“All affected pens have been recalled and accounted for, and none of them have been supplied to UK patients,” it said.

The watchdog said the vaccines had been purchased from “legitimate suppliers” in Austria and Germany.

Dr Alison Cave, MHRA chief safety officer, said: “We work closely with global regulatory partners to ensure the UK medicines supply chain remains secure, to keep patients safe. Patients can be assured that the products they use are genuine when they access them through legitimate sources.

‘Buying semaglutide from suppliers who trade illegally online significantly increases the risk of obtaining a counterfeit or unlicensed product for use in the UK.

‘Products purchased in this way will not meet our strict quality and safety standards, and taking such medications may put your health at risk.

“Anyone who suspects they have had an adverse reaction to semaglutide or any other medicine, is concerned about its safety or effectiveness, or suspects it is not a genuine product, should report this to our Yellow Card system.”

The fake products have emerged amid a global surge in demand for the weight-loss drug, leading to a shortage of the drug, the EMA said.

Semaglutide, the powerful ingredients behind Ozempic, has It marked the beginning of a new era in the war against obesity.

The treatment, loved by Hollywood stars, stimulates weight loss by mimicking the actions of a hormone released in the gut after eating, called GLP-1.

In addition to telling the pancreas to produce more insulin, the GLP-1 hormone feeds back to the brain and makes users feel full.

As a result, semaglutide may prevent users from overeating.

Ozempic is available on the NHS as a treatment to control blood glucose levels in people with type 2 diabetes. In May, it was also approved for weight loss under the brand name Wegovy, but has not yet been launched in the UK due to supply problems.

In July, the UK Department of Health urged doctors and pharmacists to stop prescribing Ozempic to people who simply want to lose weight.

Health officials warned that the clamor to get it (and similar drugs) was fueling national shortages, putting the lives of diabetics at risk.

Ozempic is available on the NHS as a treatment to control blood glucose levels in people with type 2 diabetes.

In May, another version of semaglutide was approved for weight loss under the brand name Wegovy. It is not yet widely available in the UK due to supply issues.

The delay has led to a rise in unauthorized prescribing (where drugs are dispensed for a use other than their intended use), which is exacerbating the shortage.

Even though patients are eager to take the medications, It is not without side effects.

Users often complain of nausea, constipation, and diarrhea after taking the medication. Less common side effects include taste disturbance and acute pancreatitis.

MailOnline revealed earlier this year that Novo Nordisk is investigating whether semaglutide could increase the risk of medullary thyroid cancer and pancreatic cancer.

But there is still no evidence to show that they are definitely side effects, even in extremely rare cases.

All Britons are urged to report any medication side effects they notice to the MHRA Yellow Card Scheme.

The EMA is already investigating Ozempic and other similar weight loss hits over fears they could cause users to consider self-harm.

Health chiefs were frightened by reports from Iceland of three patients experiencing thoughts of self-harm and suicide after receiving the injections.

Suicidal thoughts are listed as a possible consequence on the leaflets already inside the package.