The Pharmacy and Poisons Board on Thursday cautioned Kenyans against falling for new Ozempic (semaglutide) pens being sneaked into Kenya.
In a statement, the board revealed that it had received an alert from the international criminal police organization, Interpol, cautioning of efforts by unscrupulous businessmen to falsify the pens.
It noted that some importers were repurposing Apidra Solostar pens (glulisine) used to treat both type 1 and type 2 diabetes and selling them as Ozempic pens.
"The Pharmacy and Poisons Board "the board" wishes to draw the attention of the public to an alert received from the Interpol concerning the falsification of Ozempic Pens (Semaglutide) where Apidra Solostar pens (glulisine) used to treat both type 1 and type 2 diabetes has been falsely relabelled as Ozempic (Semaglutide) Pens," read the notice in part.
"Consequently, the Board would like to inform the public that Ozempic Pens are currently not registered or authorized by the Board to be placed in the Kenyan market."
The board further indicated that any product being marketed as Ozempic Pens is illegally in the market noting that the Board could not ascertain their safety, quality and effectiveness.
As a result, the board initiated a rapid response and heightened surveillance to ascertain the presence of the falsified pens in the Kenyan market.
"The Board cautions the public and healthcare professionals AGAINST trading, distribution, wholesaling, retailing, issuing, dispensing, use or administration to patients of the falsified Ozempic (semaglutide) Pens, as such actions are illegal and jeopardise public health and safety," the Poisons Board cautioned.
"We encourage the public and healthcare professionals to immediately share any information regarding Ozempic pens with the Pharmacy and Poisons Board."
Ozempic (semaglutide) is an injectable medication that is availed as an option for adults seeking to treat type 2 diabetes.
The Ozempic is designed in FlexTouch pens with a variation of red, blue, or yellow colour and is fitted with a gray dose button.
In recent years, fake Ozempics have been flooding the market following a spike in demand that surpassed supply.
In some instances, the Ozempic (semaglutide) has been misused in weightloss goals.
