Ozempic warning: Something scary is going on
Key Takeaways
Industry Buzz
“These pens appear to be the real deal. Why is that so scary? Well, you got a prescription for it. You went to an actual pharmacy, part of the US drug supply chain, and the pen you got was counterfeit.” — Jonathan Kaplan, MD, board-certified plastic surgeon
Find more of your peers' perspectives and insights below.
You prescribe it. They fill it. But what if the Ozempic pen your patient picked up—from a real pharmacy—was fake? That’s the nightmare scenario unfolding now, as the FDA scrambles to contain counterfeit semaglutide in the legitimate drug supply chain.
“Something is going on around name-brand Ozempic,” said board-certified plastic surgeon Jonathan Kaplan, MD, in a recent Instagram Reel. “The FDA is warning people not to use one gram of certain Ozempic pens. Why? They’re counterfeit.”
According to Kaplan, patients are getting fake pens despite doing everything right—seeing their doctor, getting a prescription, and picking up the medication at a trusted pharmacy. “You went to an actual pharmacy, part of the US drug supply chain, and the pen you got was counterfeit,” he explained. “That’s what happened, and that’s why the FDA is so scared.”
Related: Ozempic as 'a fountain of youth'? What the research saysThe specific lot and serial to watch out for? Lot number PAR0362, serial number 51746517.[] If your patients are using Ozempic, it’s worth asking them to check their pens—and toss them if they match.
As semaglutide demand continues to surge, this incident underscores a serious vulnerability in the drug supply chain. Physicians should flag this issue during patient visits, report suspicious product incidents to the FDA’s MedWatch program, and urge pharmacies to verify stock integrity—especially when dispensing high-demand GLP-1s.
This isn’t just a patient safety issue. It’s a trust issue—and one that needs immediate clinical attention.