Counterfeit Ozempic-style drugs slip into supply chains as scammers target weight-loss demand
Counterfeit GLP‑1 drugs are now turning up at Canadian retailers and on popular websites—putting plan members at risk of taking products that may contain the wrong dose, dangerous contaminants or no active drug at all.
Health Canada recently warned people not to buy or use fake or unauthorized versions of GLP‑1 drugs such as semaglutide and tirzepatide, the active ingredients in Ozempic, Rybelsus, Wegovy, Mounjaro and Zepbound.
Health Canada said only specific versions of these medicines are authorized in Canada: semaglutide as Ozempic and Wegovy injections and Rybelsus tablets, and tirzepatide as Mounjaro and Zepbound injections, all available by prescription only to treat type 2 diabetes and obesity.
As demand for GLP‑1 drugs for weight loss grows, Health Canada says some people are turning to unauthorized or counterfeit products that have not been assessed for safety, effectiveness or quality.
CBC News reports that the regulator has already identified retailers in Canada selling unauthorized GLP‑1 products—sometimes called “fauxzempic”—both in stores and online.
Some websites and social media ads also misuse the Health Canada logo and display fake endorsements, even though the regulator “never endorses a health product and does not allow its logo to be used in the advertising or packaging of health products.”
The safety concerns are not theoretical.
Health Canada say unauthorized or counterfeit GLP‑1 products can:
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contain too much, too little or none of the active ingredient
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include unlisted, dangerous or unknown substances
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be contaminated with solvents, heavy metals, particles such as fibres, glass or plastic, or microbials such as bacteria, fungi or endotoxins
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be poorly or incorrectly labelled, or improperly manufactured or stored
For injectable products, Health Canada warns of added risks such as infections from lack of sterility, allergic reactions and other serious outcomes tied to contamination, improper handling or unsafe administration.
Even genuine GLP‑1 drugs have known risks, including severe gastrointestinal problems, pancreatitis, worsening kidney injury and low blood sugar, particularly when used with other medications.
The US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) recently announced it had seized dozens of units of counterfeit Ozempic 1 mg that entered the legitimate US drug supply chain after distribution outside Novo Nordisk’s authorized network.
The FDA said the counterfeit pens carried a real lot number, PAR1229, and explained that one way to distinguish them is the position of the EXP/LOT text on the pen label: on counterfeit pens, it appears to the left of the expiration date and lot number, while on authentic Ozempic pens it appears above.
In a separate April 2025 notice, the FDA reported several hundred counterfeit Ozempic 1 mg units with lot PAR0362 in the US supply chain and advised patients, wholesalers, retail pharmacies and health‑care professionals not to use, distribute or sell products with that lot and a specific serial number pattern.
The FDA said it is testing seized products to determine their composition and safety risks, and is working with Novo Nordisk to identify, investigate and remove further suspected counterfeit Ozempic.
The agency also noted that six adverse events had been reported in relation to the flagged lots, but all were tied to authentic Ozempic and did not appear linked to the counterfeit product.
Experts say several forces are pushing people toward these risky channels.
According to CBC News, Toronto internal medicine specialist and obesity researcher Sean Wharton says any blockbuster therapy attracts counterfeiters, but GLP‑1 drugs are “on scale, a hundred times bigger” than previous examples, and he points to a “cultural desire for thinness” and limited access for people who are not wealthy or well insured.
Family physician Mara Gordon told CBC that a “really fatphobic culture,” along with misogyny and racism, drives some people to “really desperate measures,” including turning to “sketchy websites” and counterfeit products to change their bodies.
For Canadians, Health Canada’s advice is direct:
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obtain GLP‑1 drugs only with a prescription from a licensed pharmacy
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avoid buying or using unauthorized GLP‑1 products, whether in‑store or online
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look for the eight‑digit Drug Identification Number (DIN) on the label and confirm it in Health Canada’s Drug Product Database
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speak with a health‑care professional if they have used an unauthorized GLP‑1 product and have concerns
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learn the risks of buying drugs over the Internet and how to choose a safe online pharmacy
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report suspected counterfeit or unauthorized products, and any side effects, to Health Canada
Health Canada notes that selling unauthorized or counterfeit health products, or making false or misleading claims that they can prevent, treat or cure illnesses, is illegal.
The department says it is monitoring the marketplace, seizing products, issuing compliance or warning letters, and working with the Canada Border Services Agency to stop unauthorized shipments at the border.
