German Drug Regulator Contemplates Export Ban on Ozempic

The head of the German drug regulator, BfArM, is considering implementing an export ban on Novo Nordisk's diabetes drug Ozempic due to high demand for its weight-loss benefits, which has led to a supply shortage. Ozempic, approved for treating type 2 diabetes, has been increasingly prescribed off-label for weight loss. BfArM is in talks with lawmakers and may impose the ban to ensure an adequate supply for patients in Germany. The regulator has called on physicians to only prescribe drugs from the GLP-1 receptor agonist class for their approved use against diabetes and urged all relevant actors not to export the drugs.