Rita Karam, an official from the Ministry of Public Health in Lebanon, warned about the existence of counterfeit versions of Ozempic in Lebanon, which has led to around 11 individuals suffering from severe drops in blood sugar levels. She noted that one person was hospitalized due to suspected use of a non-original version of Ozempic, produced by Novo Nordisk for diabetes patients. Rita stated that officials suspect that the medications they consumed were fake after discovering discrepancies in the dosages compared to the original Ozempic injection pens.
Interviews conducted by Reuters with law enforcement and public health officials last month revealed a massive circulation of counterfeit versions due to the increasing demand for Ozempic and other weight-loss medications, including Eli Lilly's and Novo's Wegovy. Authorities have already found counterfeit Ozempic products in at least 17 countries, including the UK, Germany, Egypt, and Russia. Several of those countries have urged pharmacies and consumers to be cautious of counterfeit products due to unclear ingredients.
Rita mentioned that the ministry has begun investigating the eleven cases but has not been able to determine the sources of the medications or the numbers printed on their labels, which would allow tracing their production history; this has complicated understanding what the patients actually consumed. She added that three of them used the suspected counterfeit Ozempic to manage diabetes, four for weight control, while the remaining four used it for "unspecified reasons."
According to the ministry's website, two orders were issued regarding the withdrawal of Ozempic in January 2023. Rita stated that there were no reported cases of potentially using a non-original version of Ozempic in Lebanon last year. Novo Nordisk refrained from commenting on the suspected cases in Lebanon.
