CDS Law - Law Office of Colonna, Doyle & Simeola

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Law Office of Colonna & Doyle and Simeola & Simeola PC are pleased to announce a merger of the two law practices which will continue the general practice of law under the firm name of Law Office of Colonna, Doyle & Simeola.

Law Office of Colonna & Doyle and Simeola & Simeola PC are pleased to announce a merger of the two law practices which will continue the general practice of law under the firm name of Law Office of Colonna, Doyle & Simeola.

Photo of attorneys Timothy J. Doyle, Thomas F. Colonna and William P. Doyle, III

Unbranded Ozempic and Wegovy knockoffs could harm patients

Ozempic is an injectable medication initially approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for the management of type 2 diabetes. However, physicians have noted that the drug helps patients lose weight with minimal effort. Off-label prescribing for exactly that purpose has now become quite common.

There’s also the drug Wegovy which is the same type of drug but specifically branded for the benefit of those hoping to lose weight. These drugs have been in such high demand since social media and the mainstream media learned about them that even diabetics have struggled to obtain the medication they require.

Compounding pharmacies have started to take advantage of the lack of supply by advertising off-brand formulations compounded by their pharmacists. Unfortunately, there is some reason for concern about those in-house medications being offered to patients.

Pharmacies can compound these drugs

Both Ozempic and Wegovy are glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists. The unbranded name for the drug is semaglutide. In theory, compounding pharmacies have access to the raw materials and equipment necessary to produce in-house versions of semaglutide. The FDA has provided guidelines for pharmacies compounding this medication during times of insufficient supply.

That being said, doing so isn’t necessarily as safe as producing the same medication in a regulated commercial setting. There have been reports of professionals using salt forms of semagultide, which are the not the same as the active ingredient included the medications manufactured by pharmaceutical companies.

The FDA notes the risk of adverse patient reactions as being a potential cause for concern for patients seeking a traditional supply of this weight loss medication. Salt-based compounded medicines may not have the same effect on patients, making these options particularly dangerous for those who rely on a semaglutide medication for type 2 diabetes.

Those who develop concerning symptoms after beginning treatment with an off-brand version of semaglutide may eventually discover that the pharmacy offering the medication did not produce a product as safe as the drugs available through mainstream manufacturers.

Those harmed by medication errors at compounding pharmacies may have grounds to pursue a medical malpractice lawsuit. Filing a lawsuit can potentially compensate people for medical expenses and other losses directly related to an unsafe medication manufactured by pharmacists hoping to take advantage of a trend.