Researchers from the University of California, San Diego, and the University of Pécs in Hungary discovered that counterfeit versions of semaglutide drugs, sold as Ozempic and Wegovy, pose serious health risks. The study, published in a recent report, highlights the dangers of purchasing these drugs from illegal online pharmacies. These counterfeit drugs, marketed for weight loss, appetite suppression, diabetes, and cardiovascular health, were found to have low-purity semaglutide, dosages exceeding labeled amounts, and one even showed signs of bacterial contamination.
Nearly half of online pharmacies selling weight loss drugs are operating illegally, study finds https://t.co/LrLqQxrqfp
— JustSearchin (@AndreasBoos) August 3, 2024
The three tested drugs came from different illegal online pharmacies. However, attempts to buy from six such sellers revealed that three—weightcrunchshop.com, puremedsonline.com, and genius-pharmacy.com—never delivered the drugs. Instead, they engaged in “nondelivery” scams, demanding additional payments ranging from $650 to $1,200, far more than the initial payments of $113 to $360.
The rogue pharmacies that delivered the counterfeit drugs were semaspace.com, uschemlabs.com, and biotechpeptides.com. Semaspace.com and uschemlabs.com had already received FDA warning letters for selling unapproved, misbranded drugs. As of now, the Semaspace website is no longer reachable, and US Chem Labs lists their semaglutide vials as out of stock.
The study underscores the risks people face in their efforts to access these popular drugs, driven by high costs, lack of insurance coverage, and drug shortages. While compounded semaglutide drugs from legitimate pharmacies are legal, they are not FDA-approved, posing safety and efficacy risks. The FDA recently reported an increase in overdoses from semaglutide products made in compounding pharmacies, leading to hospitalizations.
The @WHO is warning of counterfeit Ozempic, a branded version of the drug semaglutide, discovered in 2023 in regulated supply chains in Brazil, the UK, and the US, amid an uptick in similar reports worldwide. Here’s what to know about counterfeit Ozempic. https://t.co/pyG1dcQL6N
— JAMA (@JAMA_current) July 19, 2024
Key Points:
i. Researchers found counterfeit semaglutide drugs sold as Ozempic and Wegovy with low purity, excessive dosages, and bacterial contamination.
ii.Three illegal online pharmacies delivered substandard drugs, while others scammed buyers with additional customs fees.
iii. The tested counterfeit drugs came from semaspace.com, uschemlabs.com, and biotechpeptides.com, with some receiving FDA warnings.
iv. High costs, lack of insurance coverage, and shortages drive people to risky, illegal sources for these popular weight loss and diabetes drugs.
v. Compounded semaglutide drugs are legal but unapproved by the FDA, posing safety and efficacy risks, with reports of overdoses and hospitalizations rising.
RM Tomi – Reprinted with permission of Whatfinger News
