Ozempic manufacturer calls for regulation of cross-border sales to prevent shortages

A Canadian supplier of the popular weight-loss diabetes drug Ozympic has called for cross-border sales to be regulated to avoid shortages.

British Columbia announced in March that it would take action to curb drug sales to US residents as supplies of the drug ran out.

A spokeswoman for the drugmaker, Novo Nordisk, praised the effort to control BC sales, but said the effort would have to be national to be effective: Canada doesn’t have a surplus to sell.

In a written response to questions, Kate Hanna, associate director of communications and corporate affairs for Canada at Novo Nordisk, said: “Submitting non-Canadians to the Canada-designated Olympics increases the risk of a shortage of Canadians.”

Online companies are targeting US customers with promises of “cheap” Canadian Olympic. Because Canada controls the price of patented drugs, the price of Ozympic is three times higher in the United States.

Ozempic’s strong sales have led to shortages in the U.S., and Ms. Hanna said the company is unable to provide additional supplies to Canada.

“While Ozempic will be offered to the Canadian market based on anticipated demand, there are limitations that may limit increasing supply in the short term,” Ms. Hanna wrote. She said the company is working with wholesalers, Ottawa and the provinces to limit sales of the drug to non-Canadian residents “to protect current and future supply for Canadian patients.”

Pharmacists fear Ozempic could end up with more drugs shipped from BC to the U.S.

An investigation ordered by BC Health Minister Adrian Dix found a number of prescriptions were signed by a Texas doctor licensed in Nova Scotia and sent to US customers by two online pharmacies in British Columbia. A doctor who allegedly signed more than 17,000 prescriptions in a three-month period has been suspended by the College of Physicians and Surgeons of Nova Scotia pending a full investigation. The College of Pharmacists of BC is reviewing the conduct of some of its members to determine whether they are meeting standards of practice.

Mr. Dix raised the issue on Wednesday with federal Health Minister Jean-Yves Duclos for a funding announcement in Vancouver.

Mr. Duclos told reporters he supported the actions taken by B.C. and Nova Scotia in the case, which he described as an “appalling level of abuse.”

Ozempic is approved for use in Canada as a treatment for type 2 diabetes to help patients control their blood sugar levels. It is not approved for the treatment of weight loss, although the drug is advertised on social networks for that purpose.

Under the Food and Drug Act, the federal government can prohibit bulk distribution of drugs intended for the Canadian market outside of Canada if that sale causes or exacerbates a shortage. That law applies to manufacturers and distributors — but not to pharmacies that fall under the jurisdiction of state and territory governments.

However, Mr. Duclos said that the law can be implemented to solve this problem. “There may be an opportunity to use the Food and Drug Act,” he said. “I will be there to support other work that needs to be done.”

Mr Dix warned that other formulas could see a similar increase in demand. “This will not be the last time we look at this issue, given the weight-loss promotion surrounding this particular drug category.”

Novo Nordisk has received approval from Health Canada to offer a similar formulation, Wegovy, intended for weight loss. However, the company is still working on a “commercial supply” to deliver to Canada.