Physical Address
304 North Cardinal St.
Dorchester Center, MA 02124
Warning Issued for Counterfeit Diabetes Drug in India
Key Takeaways:
- Falsified versions of a diabetes drug, also used for weight loss, have been discovered in India.
- The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) has raised an alert and advised doctors, chemists, and patients to be cautious.
- The DCGI has instructed doctors to prescribe alternatives and inform patients about potential adverse effects.
- The World Health Organization (WHO) has also warned about the dangers of these counterfeit drugs.
- Health authorities are urging patients to purchase medical products only from authorized sources.
- The market size of the diabetes drug was estimated at $22.4 billion in 2022 and is expected to grow due to the increasing burden of diabetes and obesity worldwide.
Counterfeit versions of a diabetes drug, also used to treat weight loss, are making the rounds in India, prompting drug regulators to warn doctors, chemists, and patients about their purchase and consumption. The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) has raised an alert about falsified versions of Glucagon-Like Peptide 1 Receptor Agonist (GLP-1-RA) products sold at physical outlets and over social media after a warning in this respect from the World Health Organization (WHO) last week.
The DCGI has advised doctors to prescribe alternatives and inform patients about any likely adverse effects of the drug. It has also instructed state drug regulators to procure samples from the market and take necessary action under the provisions of the Drugs and Cosmetics Act.
According to DCGI Rajeev Raghuvanshi, there has been a surge of online information promoting the use of GLP-1-RA products for weight loss, encouraging risky procurement behavior. It is possible that falsified versions are sold and distributed through unregulated outlets, including social media platforms. Patients are urged to be careful and only procure necessary medical products from authorized sources with proper purchase bills.
In its threat assessment for India last week, WHO stated a recent surge in demand for and reported shortage of GLP-1-RA products. The drug is sold and marketed globally under various brand names. WHO’s warning is particularly concerning as the demand for these products has risen worldwide since late 2022, with reported shortages adversely impacting people with Type-2 diabetes.
The market size of GLP-1-RA was estimated at around $22.4 billion in 2022, and it is expected to grow in the coming years due to the increasing burden of diabetes and obesity worldwide. The International Diabetes Federation predicts that the number of diabetic patients worldwide will reach 643 million by 2030 and 783 million by 2045. WHO also states that around 1 billion people across the world are obese.
The DCGI has also requested the All India Organisation of Chemists and Druggists and state drug controllers to monitor the sale of these drugs closely. Officers are instructed to keep a strict vigil on the movement, sale, and distribution of the said drug products in the market and to draw samples and initiate necessary actions.
It is essential for patients to be aware of the dangers posed by counterfeit drugs and to only purchase medications from authorized sources. By being cautious, patients can avoid potential harm and ensure their safety and well-being.
Last month, the DCGI issued a similar advisory for cough syrups and cold remedies containing pholcodine to be stopped for consumption after WHO alerted about the safety concern.