Health Canada warns of fake semaglutide drugs, cites ‘product safety’ risks – GLOBAL

January 22, 2026

Health Canada is warning Canadians of the dangers of buying “fake or unauthorized products” meant to replicate popular GLP-1 drugs such as Ozempic, Rybelsus and Wegovy.

In a public advisory released on Wednesday, Health Canada states that the risks of using “counterfeit” alternatives can vary from “infections due to lack of sterility, allergic reactions, and other serious negative outcomes due to contamination, improper handling, or unsafe administration.”

Health Canada advised users to watch out for incorrect labels, poor manufacturing or any product containing contaminants such as solvents, heavy metals, particles (glass, fibres and plastics) or microbials such as bacteria, fungi or endotoxins.

Initially developed to treat Type 2 diabetes, this kind of drug has gained considerable traction in the past decade for managing obesity and other health conditions.

Read more: https://globalnews.ca/news/11624291/health-canada-fake-semaglutide-drugs/