Don't buy fake Ozempic or related drugs - the risks are high, warns regulator

Crystal Orderson interviews Mokgadi Daphne Fafudi, SAHPRA's Head of Regulatory Compliance.

The Diabetes drug Ozempic is the latest weight loss craze to spread across the world, and a surge in fake products has followed.

The South African Health Products Regulatory Authority (SAHPRA) has issued a warning about the risks associated with these unapproved drugs, also reminding the public that Ozempic was not designed for weight loss.

The drug is registered in South Africa for the treatment of adults with Type 2 Diabetes.

Diabetics falling ill from dodgy black market Ozempic

Crystal Orderson interviews Mokgadi Daphne Fafudi, SAHPRA's Head of Regulatory Compliance.

Fafudi emphasizes that there are currently just two forms of these injectables approved for diabetes use in South Africa - Ozympic and Mounjaro.

"At the moment there is high demand because of this off-label use, and there is a proliferation in the market of products that have not been approved by SAHPRA - for any product to be in the market it must be evaluated by us."

"The risk is very high to the health of the public, because firstly these products are not regulated for weight loss... and people are getting them online and perhaps even through a pharmacy, but it's not approved. They don't even know what they are taking, so it's very dangerous."

Mokgadi Daphne Fafudi, Head: Regulatory Compliance - SAHPRA

Fafudi cites reports from other markets where people have had to be hospitalised after taking these unapproved drugs, or even died.

SAHPRA's advice to the public, in short, is to rely on your medical doctor for proper diagnosis of your condition, she says.

"And even if you want to monitor your weight, do it through the qualified health professionals... people who are on this product need to be monitored."

Mokgadi Daphne Fafudi, Head: Regulatory Compliance - SAHPRA

For more detail, listen to the interview audio at the top of the article