Nigerians have been told to be wary of a counterfeit cancer treatment drug, Phesgo 600mg/600mg/10ml, labelled with batch number C5290S20, currently in circulation.
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, made the announcement in a public alert (No. 051/2024) available on it’s website.
“The Marketing Authorization Holder, MAH, Roche, received a complaint from a doctor at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, LUTH-NSIA, regarding the suspected counterfeit product,” NAFDAC stated.
The health agency noted that the Phesgo 600mg/600mg was said to have been brought in by a patient for administration.
While noting that the product had not been administered at the time of the report, NAFDAC stated that it matched the characteristics of a previously reported counterfeit batch, C3809C51.
It stressed that illegal marketing of counterfeit medicines was a serious health risk, as these products might not comply with regulatory standards and could undermine safety, quality, and effectiveness.
Meanwhile, the agency had instructed all its zonal directors and state coordinators to carry out surveillance and remove counterfeit products from their areas.
It also urges importers, distributors, retailers and healthcare professionals, and to be careful and vigilant throughout the supply chain, so as to avoid the importation, distribution, and sale of counterfeit products.
