Fake pen alert hub

Current active alerts

Mounjaro 15 mg KwikPen — falsified product (Feb 2026)

The MHRA alerted in February 2026 that falsified Mounjaro 15 mg KwikPens had reached UK patients via unlicensed supply routes. Patients reported unexpected adverse reactions and inconsistent effects, consistent with contents not being genuine tirzepatide at the stated concentration. The 15 mg strength is the most expensive and therefore the most attractive to falsifiers.

Full identifier guide: Fake Mounjaro pens — Feb 2026 alert + what to check.

Ozempic — recurring counterfeit alerts

Ozempic has been a counterfeit target for years. Off-label weight-loss demand sustains pressure on the legitimate supply, and counterfeits surge during shortages. Documented patterns include pens repackaged into non-Novo cartons, pens containing insulin instead of semaglutide, and missing or non-English Patient Information Leaflets.

Full identifier guide: Fake Ozempic pens.

Wegovy — counterfeit-pen pattern

Wegovy supply pressure (constrained manufacturing scale-up versus aggressive demand) has produced counterfeits in multiple markets. UK MHRA action has included takedowns of online sellers and intelligence-sharing with EU regulators.

See the Wegovy brand-specific identifier checks at Wegovy UK guide.

Pattern: where fakes come from

Across all GLP-1 counterfeit incidents that have reached UK patients, the supply route is consistent:

• Outside the regulated UK supply chain. Not via a GPhC-registered pharmacy dispensing against a UK prescription.
• Online sellers without verified prescriber involvement. 60-second forms, no real clinical assessment.
• Cross-border shipment. EU pharmacy partners, Turkey, India, and other non-UK sources have all featured.
• Peer-to-peer supply. Buying from a friend, colleague, or gym contact who claims to have a surplus prescription.
• ‘Compounded’ marketing. Mass-market compounded GLP-1 supply marketed on price has produced its own quality and identity issues.

How to avoid landing on a fake

The minimum protective checks:

1. Buy only via a UK GPhC-registered (or PSNI) pharmacy against a UK prescription. Check the register yourself before paying — see Check a UK pharmacy.
2. Confirm the prescriber is a named, GMC-registered (or NMC / GPhC IP) clinician.
3. Don’t accept ‘we can’t share the prescriber’s name’ or ‘from our EU/Turkish partner pharmacy’ as answers.
4. Be sceptical of pricing significantly below the genuine market range. The price gap usually reflects skipped quality assurance.
5. See the GLP-1-specific six-check protocol at Check a UK online pharmacy (GLP-1).

What to do if you think your pen is fake

1. Don’t inject. Don’t take the next scheduled dose.
2. Photograph everything. Carton, pen, PIL, shipping label. Keep it all.
3. Report to MHRA via Yellow Card and the GOV.UK report-a-problem form.
4. If you’ve already injected, contact your prescriber or NHS 111.
5. Full action ladder: What to do if your pen looks wrong.