Reporter's Notes | The Chaos of "Counterfeit Drugs" Behind the "Semaglutide Fever" in the United States
2024-08-18
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Xinhua News Agency, New York, August 17th. Reporter's Notes: Chaos of "Counterfeit Drugs" Behind the "Semaglutide Fever" in the United States
Xinhua News Agency reporter Xia Lin
The blood sugar-lowering and weight-loss drug semaglutide is now very popular in the United States. However, as it became popular in the United States, the proliferation of related "counterfeit drugs" and illegal sales of the drug also emerged, causing headaches for the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.
Semaglutide is a glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonist that can promote insulin secretion, inhibit glucagon secretion, delay gastric emptying and increase satiety, and reduce appetite by inhibiting the action of the hypothalamic feeding center, thereby achieving the effect of lowering blood sugar and reducing weight.
The drug was originally used to treat diabetes, and was later found to significantly reduce weight with manageable side effects, resulting in a surge in demand for the drug in the United States and many other countries. Some well-known American figures have publicly supported the drug, and related advertisements have been flooded on social media and multiple websites. According to U.S. media reports, the market size of semaglutide and similar drugs is expected to exceed $100 billion by 2030.
The price of semaglutide is relatively high in the United States, with a monthly course of treatment costing about $1,000. Even so, it is still in short supply. Stimulated by the huge market demand, a variety of "prepared drugs" claiming to have the same efficacy as semaglutide have emerged on the US market. These drugs often use semaglutide as a raw material and are mixed with other substances. The price is much lower than the genuine semaglutide, and the price of a monthly course of treatment ranges from $300 to $600.
According to the official website of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, "prepared drugs" are drugs customized for certain patients by professionals in pharmacies and other institutions that have obtained relevant certification licenses using relevant drug raw materials. This is legal as long as it complies with relevant regulations.
However, these drugs have not been reviewed by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration, and their safety and effectiveness cannot be guaranteed. The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has publicly warned many times that many "prepared drugs" made with semaglutide have suspicious ingredients or inaccurate dosages, which can harm patients' health. Some people have even been hospitalized for treatment due to the use of "prepared drugs."
Other studies have shown that the illegal sale of semaglutide or related "prepared drugs" through online channels is also a serious problem in the United States. A study published this month in the Journal of the American Medical Association Network Open showed that 42% of online pharmacies selling semaglutide were operating illegally. In addition, a formal prescription is required to purchase semaglutide, but in the US market, it is common for sellers to sell semaglutide without seeing a formal prescription.
In response to the chaos in the US market, Novo Nordisk, which produces semaglutide-related drugs, has also taken corresponding measures, including speeding up the supply of regular products and cracking down on illegal generic drug manufacturers through legal means. According to US media reports, as of now, the company has filed more than 30 related lawsuits across the United States in an attempt to maintain market order, but the effect is unknown. (End)
