The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has issued a warning to the public regarding the circulation of counterfeit cancer medications, specifically Phesgo® 600mg/600mg/10ml and Avastin 400mg/16ml, in Nigeria.
In Lagos, a suspected counterfeit batch of Phesgo® 600mg/600mg/10ml, labeled with batch number C5290S20, was identified after a doctor at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital reported a patient’s possession of the drug. Upon examination, the manufacturer, Roche, confirmed discrepancies indicating the product was falsified, including a non-existent batch number and incorrect labeling.
Similarly, counterfeit batches of Avastin 400mg/16ml, labeled H0223B08 and H4239A70, were discovered in Kano and Abuja. In Kano, a patient purchased the counterfeit drug from a pharmacy, while in Abuja, the fake product was identified at the Federal Medical Center. Roche’s investigation revealed that these batch numbers did not exist in their database, confirming the products as counterfeit.
NAFDAC emphasizes that counterfeit medications pose significant health risks due to their compromised safety, quality, and efficacy. The agency advises importers, distributors, retailers, healthcare professionals, and consumers to exercise caution by sourcing medical products only from authorized suppliers and thoroughly verifying their authenticity. Any possession or sale of these counterfeit drugs should be reported to NAFDAC immediately.
Healthcare providers and consumers are encouraged to report any adverse reactions or side effects related to the use of these medicinal products to the nearest NAFDAC office or through the available e-reporting platforms on the NAFDAC website.
NAFDAC continues its efforts to identify and remove counterfeit products from circulation to safeguard public health.
