A Melbourne pharmacy has been raided over unlawful weight loss drug production. 

Authorities have raided Como Compounding Pharmacy in South Yarra, Melbourne, seizing large quantities of off-brand Ozempic and other medications. 

The raid is part of a broader inquiry into the compounding of such drugs, amidst escalating concerns over their safety and legality.

The Therapeutic Goods Administration (TGA), accompanied by staff from the Victorian Pharmacy Authority, conducted the operation. 

The move follows the TGA's announcement of a proposed ban on pharmacy-made versions of Ozempic, citing the use of often unknown ingredients and a lack of safety testing by the regulator.

Professor Anthony Lawler, head of the TGA, stressed the potential legal breaches by pharmacies compounding medicines without prior prescriptions. 

“Consumers need to understand that the safety of compounded medicines are not assessed by the TGA, and they are not subject to the same controls over the quality or efficacy of the goods when compared with medicines approved for supply in Australia,” he said.

Compounded versions of Ozempic have gained popularity due to a global shortage of the drug, initially developed as a diabetes treatment but now widely used for weight loss. 

The TGA's proposed ban has sparked debate, with clinical director Matt Vickers backing strict compounding standards, but opposing a complete prohibition. 

“A complete ban on compounded semaglutide would be disproportionate while global shortages persist and would deny thousands of Australians access to medication that is changing their lives for the better,” Dr Vickers says.

The TGA is currently soliciting feedback on its proposal and will make a decision by June 2024, subject to approval by the federal health minister. 

Novo Nordisk, the sole manufacturer of Ozempic, has called for regulatory action against pharmacy-made versions on safety grounds.