The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has raised alarm over the circulation of a suspected counterfeit batch of Phesgo 600mg/600mg/10ml injection, a drug used in cancer treatment.
The affected product is labeled with batch number C5290S20 and was flagged following a complaint from a doctor at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH).
In a statement issued on Thursday via its official X handle, NAFDAC disclosed that the counterfeit drug was identified when a patient presented it for administration. The report linked it to an earlier identified fake batch, C3809C51.
The drug’s Marketing Authorisation Holder (MAH), Roche, confirmed its falsified status after reviewing images of the product.
Roche noted inconsistencies such as a non-existent batch number, incorrect labeling, missing tamper-evidence features, and mismatched language, all of which deviated from the genuine product.
NAFDAC emphasized the grave dangers posed by counterfeit drugs, highlighting their potential to compromise the safety and efficacy of medical treatments.
“All NAFDAC zonal directors and state coordinators have been directed to carry out surveillance and mop up the counterfeit products within the zones and states,” the agency stated.
The agency urged importers, distributors, healthcare professionals, and consumers to ensure medical products are sourced only from authorized suppliers.
It also advised that the authenticity of drugs should be thoroughly checked before use.
Healthcare providers and the public were encouraged to report suspected counterfeit drugs or adverse reactions to NAFDAC through its helplines, email, or via the Med-Safety app, available on Android and iOS.
NAFDAC assured Nigerians that efforts to identify and eliminate counterfeit drugs from circulation are ongoing.
The circulation of counterfeit cancer drugs poses a significant threat to public health, as it undermines patient trust in healthcare systems and potentially endangers lives.
For any reports or complaints, NAFDAC can be contacted via their toll-free line at 0800-162-3322 or email at: sf.alert@nafdac.gov.ng.
