Semaglutide Recall 2026: Canada Generics, Compounded Vials, Wegovy

Is semaglutide being recalled? Some semaglutide is, but not all of it. The recalls are lot by lot. In Canada, Health Canada pulled specific lots of generic semaglutide pens from Apotex and Dr. Reddy's in August 2026. In the US, the FDA lists recalls of compounded semaglutide from several pharmacies, and four lots of brand-name Wegovy pens from December 2025. If the lot number on your box is not on a list below, your medicine is not part of these recalls.

The topic is back in the news this week. US outlets reported on October 19 to 21, 2026 that compounded GLP-1 injections were recalled nationwide over sterility concerns. Most of that coverage is about tirzepatide, which we cover in our tirzepatide recall guide. This guide covers semaglutide, the drug in Ozempic, Wegovy and Rybelsus.

Semaglutide recall Health Canada: the generic pens

Canada is the first G7 country with generic semaglutide pens, after Novo Nordisk's Canadian patent lapsed. Dr. Reddy's received Health Canada approval on April 28, 2026, and Apotex also sells a version called Apo-Semaglutide. Within weeks, three Type II recalls were posted.

The Apotex and wrong-pen recalls are about getting more drug than you meant to. The impurity recall is about quality. Health Canada did not name the impurity or describe a health risk.

What Type II means in Canada

Health Canada uses Type II when using the product "may cause temporary adverse health consequences," or when serious harm is unlikely. Type I is the most serious level. All three semaglutide recalls are Type II, and they were made at the retail level, so pharmacies were told to pull the stock.

How to check a Canadian pen

1. Find the DIN and lot number on the carton or pen label.
2. Compare them with the table above.
3. If they match, do not use the pen. Call your pharmacist, and ask your prescriber what to do before your next dose.
4. If you took a dose from an affected pen and feel unwell, for example with strong nausea, vomiting or signs of low blood sugar, get medical care.

Health Canada's own advice is to talk to your healthcare provider before you stop the product. That matters most for people using semaglutide for type 2 diabetes.

Semaglutide recalls in the US: compounded vials

Compounded semaglutide is made by pharmacies, not by Novo Nordisk, and it is not FDA-approved. FDA enforcement reports list these recent semaglutide recalls. All are Class II.

Two things stand out. The Apollo Care recall is the largest by far. And the Harbin Jixianglong recall is for the raw powder that pharmacies use to make vials, so the problem started before the pharmacy step.

The FDA says it does not review compounded drugs for safety, quality or effectiveness before they are sold. Our compounded GLP-1 guide explains how compounding works and why the rules tightened after the shortage ended.

Was Wegovy or Ozempic recalled?

Wegovy: yes, four lots. On December 19, 2025, Novo Nordisk started a voluntary Class II recall after hair was found in a prefilled pen.

Ozempic: no recall in current FDA enforcement reports. The FDA has warned about counterfeit Ozempic 1 mg pens in the US supply chain. One fake used the real lot PAR0362 with serial numbers starting 51746517. The FDA later named another lot, PAR1229. Fakes are not a recall of the real drug, but the advice is the same: do not use them, and buy only from a licensed pharmacy.

What to do if your semaglutide is on a recall list

• Do not inject it. Set it aside and keep the box, so the pharmacy can see the lot.
• Call the pharmacy that filled it. Ask for a replacement from an unaffected lot.
• Call your prescriber before your next dose. If you miss doses or switch products, they decide how to restart. Do not guess a dose yourself.
• Watch for symptoms. Fever, redness or swelling at the injection site can point to infection. Strong nausea or vomiting after a bigger-than-expected dose needs a call to your doctor.
• Report problems. In Canada, use Health Canada's side effect reporting. In the US, use the FDA's MedWatch program.

A break or change in treatment can bring hunger back fast. That is when muscle is easiest to lose and hardest to rebuild. Sharpy gives you one protein target, one 20-minute workout and a daily Shape Score, so your routine keeps going even when your medicine is on hold. Our 7-day GLP-1 meal plan can help you hit protein while your appetite shifts.

Is semaglutide safe after all these recalls?

Recalls sound scary, but they show that checks are working. Approved semaglutide (Ozempic, Wegovy, Rybelsus and the Canadian generics) is made under drug quality rules and tested lot by lot. When a lot fails, it is pulled. The risk is higher with compounded and research-grade semaglutide, which skip FDA approval. The FDA has said it received 990 adverse event reports for compounded semaglutide as of May 31, 2026, and it notes that reports alone do not prove the drug caused the problem.

If you want the brand-name drug at a lower price instead of a compounded one, see our Ozempic weight loss guide and talk to your prescriber about options.

The bottom line

The 2026 semaglutide recalls are about specific lots: Apotex and Dr. Reddy's generic pens in Canada, compounded vials from US pharmacies, and four older Wegovy lots. Brand-name Ozempic is not recalled. Check your lot, do not inject a recalled product and call your pharmacist and prescriber. Then keep your protein and strength habits steady with Sharpy, so the weight you lose stays fat, not muscle.

This guide is general information, not medical advice. Your prescriber decides what is right for you.

Sources

• Apo-Semaglutide Injection: Incorrect dose display (RA-82536), Health Canada, August 27, 2026
• Semaglutide Injection: Incorrect pen in package (RA-82477), Health Canada, August 12, 2026
• Semaglutide Injection: Out-of-specification impurity (RA-82537), Health Canada, August 27, 2026
• What is a recall? Recall types, Health Canada
• Drug recall enforcement reports for semaglutide, openFDA (checked October 21, 2026)
• FDA Enforcement Reports
• FDA warns consumers not to use counterfeit Ozempic found in U.S. drug supply chain, FDA (updated December 5, 2025)
• FDA's Concerns with Unapproved GLP-1 Drugs Used for Weight Loss, FDA
• Dr. Reddy's becomes first to secure Health Canada nod for generic semaglutide injection, Indian Pharma Post
• MedWatch: FDA Safety Information and Adverse Event Reporting Program