World Health Organization releases warning on falsified medicines used for diabetes treatment and weight loss

The World Health Organization (WHO) has issued a global alert regarding falsified semaglutide medications used to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity in several countries. Specifically, WHO identified three falsified batches of Ozempic, a type of semaglutide, detected in Brazil (October 2023), the United Kingdom (October 2023), and the United States (December 2023). The WHO Global Surveillance and Monitoring System has noted an increase in reports of falsified semaglutide products worldwide since 2022, prompting this official notice.