‘Exploded’: TGA warns over Australia’s Ozempic black market

Authorities have sounded a warning as More Australians are taking desperate steps to find weight loss drugs as pharmacies across Australia are depleted of their supplies.

Dwindling supplies of Ozempic are fuelling an “exploding” black market for the drug across Australia, as the medical industry is forced to assess which patients need the popular medication the most.

In Australia, Ozempic is only approved to treat type 2 diabetes.

But with more doctors prescribing the drug for weight loss, pharmacies are being hit with a greater demand for the drug than ever before.

The supply has also been hit after the federal government banned compounding pharmacies from producing replicas of the weight-loss injections from October 1 due to safety fears – products that were being used by approximately 20,000 Australian patients.

Dr Gary Deed, who is Chair of The Royal Australian College of General Practitioners (RACGP) Specific Interests Diabetes, said lawmakers needed to urgently step in to help diabetics who use weight-loss injections.

“This is a weekly issue with every GP in every clinic in the country,” Dr Deed said.

“Some people are actually now giving up and letting their diabetes be a bit less well-managed because they can’t get what they actually need. It further complicates patients’ distress.

“I have patients contacting me every week about it. There is a level of patient frustration and a level of clinical frustration. And we haven’t even seen the light at the end of the tunnel yet.”

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA) has told practitioners that while the manufacturers Novo Nordisk are increasing manufacturing capacity, supply will not ramp up until December this year at the earliest.

Wegovy or Mounjaro have been included for weight management, however, a patient must have a minimum BMI of 27 with a weight-related condition to qualify.

Dr Deed said he is concerned about the number of Australians who are seeking the drug online amid the shortage.

The anti-diabetic medication "Ozempic" (semaglutide) is made by Danish pharmaceutical company "Novo Nordisk". Picture: JOEL SAGET / AFP

“It’s sad but I understand that people get desperate, and this is where people take advantage of others, and that just further the risk of complication,” he said.

Black market ‘explodes’ in recent months

News.com.au tested just how easy it was for a person to get the Hollywood-fad medication from the black market.

The seller, who sold the drug via an app, said one pen of the drug costs $165 AUD, shipped directly to your door. We did noy purchase any product.

For comparison, pharmacies sell the injectibles for $145 or $31.50 if subsidised by the PBS in particular diabetes cases.

News.com.au tested just how easy it is to order Ozempic on the black market. Picture: Supplied

The drug comes in different doses, with some diabetics being forced to move off their preferred dose due to supply. Picture: Supplied

Some Aussies wanting to use the drug for weight loss are even taking to social media to share the names of doctors willing to prescribe the drug – as well as pharmacists who will fill the script “no questions asked”.

“You might be better off going in, in person rather than calling up. Much easier to say no on the phone and you might strike someone in a good mood if you go in,” one Sydney user advises amid the shortage.

Medical experts caution that, like all prescription medications, Ozempic carries potential risks,

including gastrointestinal side effects, pancreatitis, and complications related to improper use,

particularly when obtained without medical supervision.

TGA says supply a ‘priority’

News.com.au can reveal that since January 1 last year, the TGA has issued 16 infringement notices totalling over $200,000 to multiple entities for alleged unlawful advertising of weight loss medications (including Ozempic) online and in-store.

In a statement to news.com.au, the TGA said they were aware weight loss medications were being “illegally” promoted for sale through different online forums and that compliance was a “top priority”.

“The TGA continues to work in partnership with the Australian Border Force to disrupt the unlawful import and subsequent supply of illegal medicines into Australia,” the TGA said in the statement.

“We strongly advise consumers not to use prescription medications offered or issued without a prescription from a health practitioner.

“Caution is also advised before importing unapproved medicines into Australia for personal use, including products subject to global shortages like Ozempic. Imported products have a higher chance of being substandard, falsified, or counterfeit (fake).”

Nial Wheate, Professor of Pharmaceutical Chemistry at Macquarie University, said it was “far too easy” nowadays for people to buy potentially unsafe pharmaceutical drugs from illegal sources.

“[Ozempic] has exploded in its use in a way that most other drugs don’t. You don’t see a drug having applicability to so many people in the community at the same time. It’s unusual,” he said.

“We know people are buying these medications over the internet. This is what happens when you have a medicine that actually works really, really well and demand is far outstripping the supply.”

Originally published as ‘Exploded’: TGA warns over Australia’s Ozempic black market