Picture supply, Getty ImagesImage caption, A counterfeit Ozempic pen seized in London.Article informationA international alert about pretend Ozempic – which has change into common as a approach of reducing weight – has been issued by the World Well being Group (WHO).The drug is usually often known as a “skinny jab” regardless of its fundamental goal being a therapy for type-2 diabetes. The WHO stated the pretend medicines may pose a hazard to well being. The organisation suggested individuals to supply the drug solely by respected sources, equivalent to a physician, moderately than obscure websites on-line or by social media. The energetic ingredient in Ozempic – semaglutide – helps individuals with type-2 diabetes management the quantity of sugar of their blood. Nonetheless, the weekly injection additionally alerts to the mind that we’re full. So the drug helps individuals drop some pounds by lowering the urge to eat.Folks with out diabetes have been getting maintain of the drug as a weight-loss treatment.It has led to shortages for individuals with type-2 diabetes and created a marketplace for counterfeit medication. The WHO stated it had been monitoring rising stories of dodgy-Ozempic all all over the world since 2022.Faux batches have been seized by the authorities within the UK, US and Brazil. Danger to well being“[We advise] healthcare professionals, regulatory authorities and the general public pay attention to these falsified batches of medicines,” stated Dr Yukiko Nakatani, WHO Assistant Director-Common for Important Medicines and Well being Merchandise. The WHO warned some fake-injections could not include semaglutide in any respect or others could include different drugs, equivalent to insulin, resulting in “unpredictable” results.”These falsified merchandise may have dangerous results to individuals’s well being,” the WHO stated.That they had come into the nation from legit suppliers in Austria and Germany, and appeared to have genuine packaging.Dr Alison Cave, the organisation’s chief security officer, stated: “Shopping for semaglutide from illegally buying and selling on-line suppliers considerably will increase the chance of getting a product which is both falsified or not licensed to be used within the UK.”She stated injecting such merchandise “could put your well being in danger”.A better power model of Ozempic has been developed particularly for weight-loss and is marketed as Wegovy. That is being provided at specialist weight-loss clinics on the NHS within the UK.