Short answer: FDA has found fake Ozempic 1 mg pens in the legitimate US supply chain three times, in December 2023, April 2025 and December 2025. It publishes the lot numbers and label details to check, such as lot PAR1229 with the EXP/LOT text printed to the left of the date instead of above it. FDA advises getting Ozempic only with a prescription from a state-licensed pharmacy and checking the pen before use.
Each alert names counterfeit Ozempic 1 mg pens that were sold outside Novo Nordisk's authorized supply chain but reached US pharmacies.
| Alert | What FDA found | How to spot it |
|---|---|---|
| December 21, 2023 | Thousands of units seized | Lot NAR0074 with serial number 430834149057. The needles, pen label, leaflets and carton were also fake |
| April 14, 2025 | Several hundred units, seized April 9 | Lot PAR0362 with a serial number starting 51746517 |
| December 5, 2025 | Dozens of units | Lot PAR1229, which is also a real lot. On the fake, the EXP/LOT text sits to the left of the date and lot number; on the real pen it sits above them |
FDA says lot PAR1229 pens that came through the Novo Nordisk Patient Assistance Program are authentic and can still be used. Its alert page has photos of real and fake pens and needles.
At the time of each alert, FDA and Novo Nordisk were still testing the seized pens and had no information on their identity, quality or safety. FDA's general warning is that counterfeit medicines may contain the wrong ingredients, too much, too little or none of the active ingredient, or other harmful ingredients.
For the 2023 lot, FDA found the needles were counterfeit, so their sterility could not be confirmed, which raises the risk of infection. It was aware of five adverse event reports for that lot, none serious, matching common Ozempic effects such as nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, stomach pain and constipation. For the two 2025 lots, the six reports for each lot were linked to authentic Ozempic, not the fakes.
Beyond the specific lots, FDA lists these possible signs of a counterfeit medicine:
For GLP-1 medicines bought through telehealth sites, FDA adds red flags such as deep discounts, medicine that arrives in broken packaging or without instructions, spelling errors or wrong pharmacy addresses on the label, and no screening or prescription by a licensed doctor. Compounded semaglutide is a separate issue from counterfeit Ozempic; see compounded vs brand semaglutide.
FDA advises not using a pen that matches a counterfeit description. It lists Novo Nordisk customer care (1-800-727-6500) for questions, its MedWatch program for side effects, and its Office of Criminal Investigations for suspected counterfeit sellers. The pharmacist who filled the prescription can compare the pen with stock.
Keeping the carton until the pen is used up keeps the lot number at hand. A note in Dose Track with the lot number and pharmacy next to each new pen makes it quick to check against future alerts.
Read more on Dose Track: Ozempic guide · Ozempic side effects · Compounded vs brand semaglutide · Compounded semaglutide dosing errors · How to store Ozempic