Patient safety is our top priority, and that is why we are dedicated to fighting counterfeit and falsified medicines and other illegal activities that threaten the safety of our patients and the integrity of our products. Counterfeit and falsified medicines are dangerous and require a collaborative approach from both the industry and broader society to overcome. 

Counterfeit and falsified medicines are products that are deliberately and fraudulently mislabelled with respect to identity or source. These medicines can contain incorrect ingredients, improper dosages, or harmful substances. They are designed to look like genuine medications, which can make it difficult to distinguish between real and fake products.

Counterfeit medicines pose a direct danger to health and should never be used. Often, they do not contain the active ingredient needed to treat a condition, and they may also contain harmful substances, such as toxic chemicals. These medicines can also hold incorrect dosages, which can cause severe side effects or even death.

Prescription-only medicines should only be obtained through legitimate sources and after consultation with a healthcare professional. All pharmacies in Great Britain must be registered with the General Pharmaceutical Council (GPhC) and this includes online pharmacies. All prescriptions of Novo Nordisk products must be in line with the approved Summary of Product Characteristics (SmPC).

Patient safety is a top priority for Novo Nordisk and as counterfeits pose a real threat to safety, we are working in close collaboration with the MHRA to identify and eliminate counterfeit drugs from the UK market. Every counterfeit case we are made aware of is looked into and reported to the authorities according to the applicable regulations. We also work with a third party specialised in monitoring and taking down of illegal online offers to specifically address this.

Novo Nordisk also incorporates advanced security features in our product packaging to help authenticate our medications. We also invest in technologies and processes to secure our supply chain from manufacturing to distribution, including rigorous supplier vetting, secure transportation methods and continuous monitoring to ensure that our products remain safe and authentic throughout the supply chain. 

The UK is not immune to the threat of counterfeit medications. Despite stringent regulations, fake drugs can still infiltrate the market through illegal online pharmacies and unregulated sources. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) works hard to combat this.

The MHRA has the Criminal Enforcement Unit (CEU), which is a dedicated law enforcement capability, combining both investigative and prosecutorial powers. One of the three key strategic priorities for the CEU is to reduce the criminal threat from falsified medicines entering the regulated supply chain.

The MHRA also has a website dedicated to #FakeMeds, where you can report suspected fake medications or side effects, fake medical devices and products online through the MHRA Yellow Card Scheme. Their #FakeMeds website also includes further information on how to spot counterfeit medication.