Australians seeking a diabetes medication are being targeted by scammers amid a national shortage that has prompted intervention by a regulator.
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Demand for the drug semaglutide, brand name Ozempic, exploded in popularity in the past 12 months after featuring heavily on social media platforms where it was feted for its potentially significant weight loss results.
The worldwide shortage of the drug began to impact Australia in early 2022 when manufacturer Novo Nordisk couldn't supply enough Ozempic to meet an unexpected increase in demand arguably due to off-label prescribing for weight loss.
UNSW senior lecturer and Royal Prince Alfred Hospital consultant endocrinologist Dr Namson Lau told ACM his colleagues in private practice and hospital work had all been contacted by people or companies offering to sell the diabetes drug.
"A range of my endocrinology colleagues have all received contact by these generic unsolicited contacts from companies that purport to be able to supply some semaglutide," he said.
He said some of the advertisements had been faxed or sent via email, riddled with spelling errors.
"So there's some potential bad faith action going on, and none of us would touch this stuff with a 10 foot pole."
Limited stock is now starting to arrive in Australia, although the Therapeutics Goods Administration (TGA) has advised supply will remain limited for some time.
A spokesperson for the TGA told ACM they had been responding to allegations of unlawful advertising of Ozempic since early 2022 and had recently observed a number of scams targeting Australian consumers, coinciding with global shortages.
From July 1, 2022 to March 2, 2023, TGA requested the removal of almost 1000 advertisements of Ozempic from digital platforms, including social media and websites.
"These types of scams are often broadly targeted to capture as many people as possible.
"While we cannot comment on ongoing investigations that could result in compliance action, we are working with several digital platforms including TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, eBay, Amazon and Gumtree among others," the spokesperson said.
However, the drug has been heavily marketed in the United States, with one campaign for the drug set to Rock band Pilot's 1970's hit 'Magic', with the jingle "oh, oh, oh, Ozempic".
TGA is investigating scams that include promises of purchased products being delivered to a consumer's home address; offers to compound semaglutide in a pharmacy; and advertising offers being distributed to GP's for distribution to their patients.
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Dr Lau emphasised how distressing the drug shortage has been for diabetes patients in Australia.
"When the shortage first started, which is now about at least four months ago, the supply became more precarious. My colleagues and I got more and more desperate calls from our patients," he said.
"Some patients have really lost confidence in their own ability and in the system's ability to manage their diabetes. And that has triggered a relapse and a worsening of their condition to a much worse extent than before we started them on these medications."
Semaglutide helps to regulate blood glucose levels, which is important for people with type 2 diabetes. It also suppresses appetite and slows digestion.
Semaglutide is only approved by the TGA for lowering blood sugar in adults with type 2 diabetes.
