Novo Nordisk is aware that some counterfeit Ozempic® (semaglutide injection) and Saxenda® (liraglutide injection) products are being sold in the UK. This is a critical issue that we are investigating together with the health authorities.
Novo Nordisk has worked closely with the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) and welcomes the recent press release that warned the public not to buy medicines claiming to contain semaglutide without a prescription, but to consult a healthcare professional qualified to prescribe medicines and obtain a prescription.
Buying prescription-only medicines online
through non-legitimate routes without a prescription poses a direct danger to health. The contents of
the falsified medicines can be entirely different from the genuine
medicine and should not be used.
Only obtain appropriate medicine on prescription through legitimate sources and after consultation with a healthcare professional. All prescriptions of our products must be in line with the approved Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC). All pharmacies in Great Britain must be registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) and this includes online pharmacies.
Examine your packaging and pens closely before using
them.
- Falsified packs that have been identified have been of inferior quality, containing graphical and text errors. See Figure 1 below for example of genuine Novo Nordisk UK packs for reference.
- Some falsified pens can be identified by the scale indicator and the dose selector which differ from the genuine product, but counterfeits can vary.
In reports received to date, examples of
falsified pens show that the dose selector extends when dialled to
select the dose. The scale on the extended dose selector also ranges
from 0 to 80. Genuine Ozempic® and
Saxenda® pens dose selectors do not extend when
dialling to select a dose and have fixed doses, such as 0.25 mg, 0.5
mg, and 1.0 mg for Ozempic® pens and 0.6 mg, 1.2 mg, 1.8 mg
for Saxenda® pens.
See Figure 2 below
- If you suspect that you are in possession of a falsified Novo Nordisk product, do not use it, please report it to the MHRA via the Yellow Card scheme.
- If you suspect that you have administered a falsified product, please seek medical advice straight away.
- If you experience any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist, or nurse. Side effects should be reported to the MHRA’s Yellow Card scheme. Adverse events should also be reported to Novo Nordisk via the Customer Care Centre by calling 0800 023 2573.
Every counterfeit case we are made aware of is looked into and
reported to the authorities according to the applicable regulations
and we are in close dialogue with local health authorities to support
patients against falsified products.
We also work with a third party specialised in monitoring and taking down of illegal online offers to specifically address this and have further reinforced this activity in 2023 to ensure an even broader reach.
We will always put patient safety first and are committed to continue to actively fight against counterfeit products.
If you get any side effects, talk to your doctor, pharmacist or nurse. This includes any possible side effects not listed in the package leaflet. You can also report side effects directly via the Yellow Card Scheme at yellowcard.mhra.gov.uk or search for MHRA Yellow Card in the Google Play or Apple App Store.
Adverse events should also be reported to Novo Nordisk Limited (Telephone Novo Nordisk Customer Care Centre 0800 023 2573). Calls may be monitored for training purposes.
This page is intended for members of the UK public