B.C. sees dramatic drop in Ozempic sales to U.S. customers after regulation: province

The B.C. government says sales of Ozempic to people who live in the U.S. have been cut by 99 per cent since restrictions were put in place in April.

According to the province, from Jan. 1, 2023, to April 19, there were 30,700 Ozempic dispensed to people with U.S. addresses in B.C. However, from April 20 until May 31, there were 111 such dispenses.

Health Minister Adrian Dix said in April that the regulation would help prevent online or mail-order sales of Ozempic to people who do not live in Canada and who are not in B.C. to make a purchase.

“PharmaNet data review indicated that an unusually high percentage of prescriptions for Ozempic were coming from one practitioner in Nova Scotia and that these prescriptions were being predominantly dispensed by two internet pharmacies in British Columbia,” the B.C. government said in a release Friday.

Related articles: 

• B.C. regulation aims to protect Ozempic supply for diabetes patients

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• Americans buying Ozempic at B.C. pharmacies

The province notes the physician in Nova Scotia was temporarily suspended. It adds the College of Pharmacists of BC is continuing its investigation into the two online pharmacies in this province that were found to have dispensed thousands of Ozempic prescriptions in January and February of this year.

Despite the dramatic decrease in sales of the drug to people with addresses across the border, B.C. says it’s working to get that number down to zero.

The weight loss side effect of the injectable medication has sparked a huge uptick in its popularity.

“Semaglutide is in a class of medications called incretin mimetics that help the pancreas release the right amount of insulin when blood sugar levels are high. Drugs with the active ingredient semaglutide treat Type 2 diabetes mellitus under the brand name Ozempic, an injectable, and Rybelsus, a tablet, and also treat obesity under the brand name Wegovy,” the province explained.

The B.C. government stresses there is no shortage of Ozempic in the province or in Canada.