Doctors warned of Ozempic resale

The Danish Patient Safety Authority has warned doctors to be vigilant about patients redeeming multiple prescriptions for Ozempic, which is more than expected from normal use. This comes after reports of patients collecting the drug in large quantities, potentially for resale. Ozempic, produced by Novo Nordisk, is a treatment for type 2 diabetes famous for its weight loss effects and contains the active ingredient semaglutid. Research from Aarhus University and the University of Southern Denmark showed that one-third of Danes who began using Ozempic in 2022 did not have diabetes. After witnessing a significant rise in medication expenses, including for diabetes drugs, regional costs are expected to increase by 400 million kroner this year. Already in 2023, regional medicine expenses have surged by 1.7 billion kroner. The authorities have also reported 33 cases of excessive Ozempic prescriptions across five regions to the police.