adminNAFDAC Warns Nigerians About Counterfeit Cancer Drug Phesgo 600mg
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has issued a warning to Nigerians, including healthcare professionals, about a counterfeit version of the cancer treatment drug, Phesgo 600mg/600mg/10ml, bearing the batch number C5290S20.
According to NAFDAC, the alert follows a report from a doctor at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH-NSIA), who raised concerns after a patient presented the suspected counterfeit drug for administration.
The agency’s public alert (No. 051/2024), published on its website, confirmed that the drug matched the features of a previously identified counterfeit batch, C3809C51. While the drug was not administered, a visual examination of its packaging revealed significant discrepancies compared to genuine Phesgo products.
NAFDAC explained that Roche, the Marketing Authorisation Holder (MAH), conducted an investigation using images of the drug’s vial and packaging provided by the complainant. Key differences between the counterfeit product and the authentic version included:
- Absence of the batch number in Roche’s database.
- Errors in language on the packaging.
- Missing basilisk symbol.
- Incorrect bollino date.
- Tamper evidence labels inconsistent with Roche’s genuine materials.
“Although no physical sample was available for chemical analysis, the visual comparison confirmed the counterfeit nature of the product,” the agency stated.
NAFDAC has advised healthcare providers and the public to remain vigilant and report any suspicious products. This incident underscores the growing threat of counterfeit drugs in Nigeria’s healthcare system and highlights the importance of robust quality control measures.
