Mykolaiv court seizes property of pharmacy chain that could sell counterfeit Ozempik

A customer in a pharmacy. Photo: ChaRivne

In Mykolaiv, a court has arrested batches of drugs, including «Ozempik», seized during searches in pharmacies of the «CityMed» chain, which is suspected of selling counterfeit medicines.

The relevant ruling was issued on 1 July by the Zavodskyi District Court of Mykolaiv, according to NikVesti.

According to the investigation, a resident of Mykolaiv filed a complaint with the SBU that after taking the drug «Ozempik», purchased at the «CityMed» pharmacy on Mykolaivska Street, he felt unwell.

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«On 19 February, the victim came to the pharmacy «CityMed» at 15/2 Mykolaivska Street in Mykolaiv to buy a weight loss drug. The pharmacist offered him «Ozempik» for 12,000 hryvnias, and he agreed. After taking the drug, the man felt unwell. On 3 March, he bought the same drug again from the same pharmacy and experienced nausea and dizziness again. After that, he started looking for information about «Ozempik» and found out on the website of the State Service of Ukraine on Medicines that this drug is prohibited for sale and use in Ukraine», the court decision states.

According to a letter from the State Administration of Ukraine on Medicines and Drugs Control dated 26 February 2025, the drug «Ozempik» has not undergone state quality control in Ukraine. In order to prevent the circulation of counterfeit or low-quality medicines, the Service, based on appeals from the official representative of the manufacturer, «Novo Nordisk Ukraine», banned certain batches of this drug that were not officially imported into the country and have signs of counterfeiting.

In addition, the investigation found that «Ozempic» was freely sold in pharmacies of the «CityMed» network ( «Multistor»). The inspections also revealed that the chain sells another unregistered drug, AZARGA eye drops, which, like «Ozempik», does not have a retail authorisation in Ukraine.

The drugs were supplied to pharmacies through a warehouse in Odesa.

On 13 June, law enforcement officers searched the office of «Multistor» at 8 Krasnova Street in Odesa. Five mobile phones of different models, two folders with financial and import documents of the company, as well as packaging of «Ozempik» were seized. The investigating judge granted the prosecutor's request to seize the seized property.

The criminal proceedings were initiated under Article 190 (2) of the Criminal Code of Ukraine — fraud committed repeatedly or by prior conspiracy by a group of persons.

As a reminder, in the centre of Mykolaiv, on 3a Slobidska Street and Tsentralnyi Avenue, residents complain about the accumulation of drug addicts near pharmacies that dispense drugs under the state programme.