Two Indian nationals have been charged in Florida with smuggling counterfeit Ozempic obtained from unauthorized sources in China and selling it to U.S. drug distributors at deeply discounted prices, the Justice Department announced Sept. 29. The scheme allegedly continued after the FDA first warned the public about fake pens.
Prosecutors say the fakes came with counterfeit packaging, package inserts, pen labels, and needles meant to make buyers believe they were getting the real product. For the millions of Americans who inject semaglutide each week, the charges are a reminder that a fake pen can travel through business channels before it reaches a pharmacy counter.
