The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has issued a public alert regarding the fraudulent labeling of the anti-diabetic drug Ozempic, which has surfaced in various markets.
According to NAFDAC, Ozempic, an injectable solution used for treating type-2 diabetes and employed for long-term weight management as an anti-obesity medication, has been found in pre-filled pens circulating in international markets.
In a late Friday tweet from its official handle, NAFDAC disclosed that Ozempic is not registered with the agency. However, due to its high global demand, the drug has become scarce in the markets, leading to counterfeiting.
The tweet stated, “NAFDAC is alerting the public about the presence of pre-filled pens falsely labeled as the diabetes medication, Ozempic (semaglutide, 1 mg, solution for injection), identified at wholesalers in the European Union and the UK as reported by the European Medicines Agency.
“The reports of falsification came in the wake of an increase in demand for Ozempic, which has led to a global shortage situation. The pens have batch numbers, 2D barcodes, and unique serial numbers from genuine Ozempic packs.”
NAFDAC emphasized that “Ozempic (semaglutide) is not registered by NAFDAC. Although the product is not in the NAFDAC database, it is likely that it might have been distributed in the country through informal markets.”
The agency urged Nigerians to purchase all medical products from authorized/licensed suppliers and verify the authenticity of such products.
