Novo Nordisk Canada has issued a voluntary recall for a batch of its Ozempic semaglutide injection pens because of potentially cracked glass cartridges.
The nationwide medication recall from wholesalers and pharmacies is for a semaglutide solution in the 1.34 mg/mL size cartridge, according to a Health Canada advisory. The lot number of the recalled cartridges is RZFFE55.
The health agency has classified it as a Type II recall, which means use of the product could result in “temporary adverse health consequences.” The likelihood of serious adverse health repercussions is considered remote in this type of recall, Health Canada said.
Users are being asked by Health Canada to check if their medication was part of the affected batch and to inform the agency of any side effects.
Novo Nordisk Canada was unavailable for comment July 1 due to the holiday.
Semaglutide is an anti-diabetic medication used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes or as an anti-obesity medication for long-term weight loss and control.
It is used to mimic the GLP-1 hormone that is naturally produced in the human body. The hormone interacts with the brain to indicate feelings of fullness.
There has been a marked increase in the demand in Canada and other countries in recent years for weight loss drugs like Ozempic, which is the brand name for the drug semaglutide.
Novo Nordisk, a Danish multinational pharmaceutical company best known for being the maker of Ozempic, introduced another weight-loss drug in Canada last May. Known as Wegovy, the weekly injection contains semaglutide at a higher dose and is approved for weight loss among patients diagnosed with obesity.
Health Canada approved Wegovy in November 2021 based on studies that “demonstrated a statistically significantly greater amount of weight loss in semaglutide-treated (patients) as compared to placebo-treated subjects,” according to the federal government’s website.
Wegovy arrived on the scene after extensive marketing of Ozempic and a social media-driven surge in demand for off-label use of that drug for weight loss. Experts say it’s critical that prescribers, including family doctors, ensure Wegovy is only given to patients who meet specific criteria such as having a body mass index that exceeds 30 kilograms per square metre or being overweight with a related medical condition such as high blood pressure.
The Canadian Press contributed to this article.
