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The medicines regulator has claimed cons include things like promotion features being sent to GPs for distribution to sufferers.
People today in search of semaglutide have been cheated by internet sites boasting to sell the sought-soon after drug.

A range of web-sites are at present less than investigation for statements they are promoting merchandise made up of semaglutide (marketed as Ozempic) for the remedy of sort 2 diabetes and off-label for bodyweight loss.


In a statement issued by the Therapeutic Items Administration (TGA) on 1 March, the regulator disclosed that there are people today who have been cheated on the net, with some failing to receive the products just after having to pay for them in complete. Others have reported getting a product that is not in actuality semaglutide.


The regulator also expressed considerations that individuals who have purchased and acquired semaglutide without the need of a legitimate prescription from their health practitioner may possibly be employing a product that is unsuitable for them medically.


‘The TGA is knowledgeable of quite a few ripoffs targeting individuals looking for semaglutide during the current medicines scarcity and is urging buyers to only attain these products and solutions from an Australian pharmacy and when dispensed on a valid doctor’s prescription,’ the regulator urged.


A TGA spokesperson informed newsGP even though they do not have facts on the amount of people accessing the illegal web-sites, the regulator has been responding to allegations of illegal advertising of semaglutide considering that early 2022.


‘While we are not able to remark on ongoing investigations that could outcome in compliance motion, we are functioning with numerous digital platforms which includes TikTok, Instagram, Fb, eBay, Amazon and Gumtree between many others,’ the spokesperson reported.


‘The TGA has common conversations with digital platforms and social media internet sites, including to recommend them on the rules for promotion therapeutic items and to enable enhance their checking programs, which block users from putting up unlawful material which include for Ozempic.’


newsGP has been informed by the regulator that from 1 July 2022 – 2 March 2023, the TGA has requested the elimination of almost 1000 ads of Ozempic showing on digital platforms, which includes social media and internet websites.


Accepted for the treatment of variety 2 diabetes, and prescribed off label for weight problems, semaglutide has made headlines for currently being in short world-wide source, with Australian supplies influenced given that the starting of 2022.


Very last thirty day period, the TGA issued a assertion announcing constrained materials of the drug experienced commenced distribution to pick neighborhood pharmacies, with prescribers asked for to prioritise individuals utilizing the drug to control diabetes.


In the meantime, 9 Newspapers have discovered that one particular web site advertising the sought-immediately after drug has stolen the identities of a range of latest and retired well being practitioners to help current market the web site and promote the drug.


Dr Gary Deed, Chair of RACGP Particular Passions Diabetes, suggests the on the internet frauds exhibit how significantly some persons are inclined to go to financially obtain from the medicine’s shortage, at the price of some others, and cites the substantial media protection.


‘It is unfortunate,’ he informed newsGP.


‘There is a background that efficient fat decline management solutions have been lacking up to now, [and] so several people, quite rightly, are searching for assist.


‘But [this demand] also demonstrates an unrealistic watch by some men and women on relying on single pathways or prescription drugs to support take care of obese or obesity, alternatively than as a multidisciplinary method.’
In Australia, advertising prescription medicines this kind of as semaglutide is prohibited, with people today facing penalties of pretty much $900,000 and firms a lot more than $4 million, in addition to doable jail time.
The TGA is strongly advising persons not to use goods except if they have arrive from a reliable resource, noting that Novo Nordisk is the ‘only respectable manufacturer of semaglutide’.
Having said that, there are some substitute semaglutide products from different countries, which include the United kingdom and Germany, that have been permitted for short-term offer in Australia, with a checklist available by way of the TGA’s segment 19A approvals database.
When Australian-primarily based pharmacies can market prescription medicines on the net to people who have a valid prescription, the pharmacy will evaluation the prescription in advance of they dispense and deliver the medications.
As section of its warning to the community, the regulator has highlighted some of the key features of internet sites illegally advertising, or professing to market, semaglutide:
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- the promise of the ordered product becoming delivered to a consumer’s house deal with
- that the product or service getting obtained is authentic
- provides to compound semaglutide in a pharmacy
- advertising presents becoming dispersed to GPs for distribution to their sufferers.




In its most recent update, the TGA has verified that around the past week constrained materials of semaglutide have become readily available nationally and that they are predicted to return to normal ‘over the coming weeks’.
Though semaglutide is currently being approved off label for excess weight decline, the TGA has considering that registered Wegovy, which is also semaglutide, and indicated precisely for excess weight reduction.
As soon as it is readily available for invest in in Australia, Dr Deed says he anticipates that it will ‘certainly assist’ in curbing some of the need for Ozempic.
Having said that, viewing the demand that has emerged for semaglutide for bodyweight decline especially, the Queensland-centered GP believes Governing administration also has a job to engage in in this area, by addressing and preventing weight problems and obese.
‘Possibly find reassessment for obesity prevention however public wellness measures and deal with the increasing figures of obese and overweight young children,’ Dr Deed claimed.
Meanwhile, the TGA is on inform, with the regulator stating that it expects equivalent fraudulent commercials for other diabetic issues and fat loss medicines. A spokesperson instructed newsGP they are currently observing a more compact amount of advertisements for Wegovy, duaglutide (marketed as Trulicity) and tirzepatide (bought as Mounjaro).
‘The TGA are operating with other regulators in relation to these cons,’ the regulator reported in a assertion. ‘We choose appropriate action versus non-compliant marketing where we can.’
Dr Deed claims GPs have an essential job to participate in in educating and updating their individuals on the problem all-around semaglutide, as a resource of ‘quality information and facts on handling excess weight and guiding [patients] as a result of the maze’.
The TGA is urging any one who sees any semaglutide products currently being marketed unlawfully on the internet to report it via the TGA web-site.


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