FAKE fat jabs have been imported into the UK, the health watchdog warns.
The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency said two pharmacy wholesalers have been found with counterfeit Ozempic.
PARegulators in Germany released photos of the fake products, shown in the bottom image, compared to the real deal in the top image[/caption]
Demand for the potent weight loss drug, also known as semaglutide, has exploded, piling strain on the market.
The NHS prescribes the drug to treat type 2 diabetes but growing numbers of private patients are buying it to slim down.
MHRA investigators said all the fake pens have been recalled and none were given to patients.
But they warn people’s health could be at risk if they buy and take the knock-off medicines.
Chief safety officer, Dr Alison Cave, said: “Buying semaglutide from illegally trading online suppliers significantly increases the risk of getting a product which is either falsified or not licensed for use in the UK.
“Products purchased in this way will not meet our strict quality and safety standards, and may put your health at risk.
“Anyone who suspects their medicine is not a genuine product should report it to our Yellow Card scheme.”
The offending injectors were bought from legitimate suppliers based in Germany and Austria.
Medicines regulators in Germany raised the alarm and released pictures showing that the counterfeit products are made of different blue plastic to the original and do not carry the same Ozempic label.
Officials at the European Medicines Agency warned patients across the EU not to buy their own drugs from dodgy websites.
It said: “You must not use Ozempic pens that you suspect are falsified as this may lead to serious health consequences.
“If you have a pen that does not show the features of the original pen, return them immediately to your pharmacy and follow advice from your national medicine agency.
“If you buy medicines online you should only do so from legal pharmacies.”