With Danish pharmaceutical company Novo Nordisk set to launch its obesity treatment Wegovy (active ingredient: semaglutide) in South Korea next month, the illegal distribution of the company’s previously released Saxenda (liraglutide) is rampant.
Due to the limited supply of Novo Nordisk’s obesity medications, people are buying and selling these drugs online without a prescription. The government plans to tighten surveillance of illegal distribution as Wegovy’s launch approaches.
According to the pharmaceutical industry on Sept. 11, Saxenda is being covertly traded online due to high demand for cosmetic use and severe supply shortages.
From June to July, the Korea Consumer Agency inspected major online platforms such as Carrot Market, Bunjang, Junggonara, Second Way, and Naver Cafe, uncovering 15 cases of illegal transactions involving prescription-only drugs. Among these, some were identified as Saxenda.
On portal site communities, numerous posts offer unused Saxenda for resale. Users are selling it due to leftover stock or because it doesn’t suit their needs. These online communities have become a channel for those seeking Saxenda for cosmetic purposes, with some even focusing on weight loss through such drugs.
Wegovy is expected to quickly replace Saxenda following its domestic launch next month. In the U.S. and Europe, where Wegovy was released earlier, illegal distribution and counterfeit drugs similar to Saxenda have become social issues. In response to increased illegal distribution and counterfeit drugs of Wegovy, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) issued warnings last year and cautioned against overuse of Wegovy and Ozempic this year.
The main concern with illegal distribution is the risk of drug side effects. Recent studies on semaglutide highlight these risks, particularly in the context of illegal trading. Researchers from the University of Verona published a study last month revealing that semaglutide could induce suicidal thoughts. They warned that the drug’s rising popularity on social media is fueling illegal trading of Wegovy and Ozempic and stressed the importance of being aware of severe side effects, including suicidal tendencies.
Novo Nordisk added information on bowel obstruction-related side effects to the drug’s leaflet last year. Misusing the drug as merely a weight loss solution can be harmful to health. Other reported side effects of Wegovy include pancreatitis, decreased kidney function, gallbladder disease, and hypoglycemia.
In the U.S., Novo Nordisk U.S. has set up a dedicated website and ensured that Wegovy and Ozempic are sold only at FDA-approved locations to curb indiscriminate illegal trading.
The Ministry of Food and Drug Safety in South Korea is also aware of illegal distribution issues ahead of Wegovy’s domestic launch. The MFDS is working with online trading platforms to set restrictions on keywords related to weight loss drugs like Wegovy and Ozempic and enhance monitoring. Additional measures will be considered if illegal distribution issues worsen.
