The World Health Organisation (WHO) has issued a medical product alert on falsified semaglutides, the type of medicines that are used for treatment of type 2 diabetes and obesity in some countries.
WHO made this known yesterday in a statement.
It said that the alert addressed three falsified batches of product of semaglutide class of medicines (of specific brand Ozempic).
It said the medicines have been detected in Brazil in October 2023, the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland in October 2023, and the United States of America in December 2023.
“WHO Global Surveillance and Monitoring System (GSMS), has been observing increased reports on falsified semaglutide products in all geographical regions since 2022.
“This is the first official notice issued by WHO after confirmation of some of the reports,” it said.
Dr. Yukiko Nakatani, WHO Assistant Director-General for Essential Medicines and Health Products, said that WHO advised healthcare professionals, regulatory authorities and the public to be aware of these falsified batches of medicines.
Nakatani called on stakeholders to stop any usage of suspicious medicines and report to relevant authorities.
“The semaglutides, including the specific brand product that has been falsified, are prescribed to people with type 2 diabetes in order to lower their blood sugar levels.
“Semaglutides also reduce the risk of cardiovascular events.
“Most semaglutide products must be injected under the skin on a weekly basis but they are also available as tablets taken by mouth daily,” she said.
According to her, these medicines are shown to suppress appetite in addition to lowering blood sugar levels, and therefore are being increasingly prescribed for weight loss in some countries.
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She said that WHO has been observing increased demand for these medicines as well as reports on falsification.
“These falsified products could have harmful effects to people’s health; if the products don’t have the necessary raw components, falsified medicines can lead to health complications resulting from unmanaged blood glucose levels or weight.
“In other cases, another undeclared active ingredient may be contained in the injection device, for example, insulin, leading to an unpredictable range of health risks or complications,” she said.
Nakatani said that semaglutides were not part of WHO-recommended treatments for diabetes management due to their current high cost.
She said that the cost barrier made these products unsuitable for a public health approach, which aimed to ensure the widest possible access to medicines at the population level.
According to her, it also strikes a balance between the best-established standard of care and what is feasible on a large scale in resource-limited settings.