The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has issued a warning about the distribution of two fake batches of the cancer drug Avastin 400mg/16ml.
In a public alert shared on its official X account, NAFDAC identified the counterfeit batches as H0223B08 and H4239A70, discovered in Kano and Abuja.
NAFDAC revealed that the alert followed a report from Roche, the Marketing Authorization Holder (MAH). According to Roche, a pharmacist notified them about a patient who had purchased the counterfeit Avastin Vials 400 mg/16 ml, batch H0223B08, from a pharmacy in Kano.
The agency stated, “This batch had been flagged in an earlier public alert by NAFDAC. Similarly, another counterfeit batch, H4239A70, was reported by a pharmacist in the Federal Capital Territory.”
Investigations confirmed that the genuine batch H0223B08 of Avastin 400mg/16ml was intended for the Vietnamese market and distributed there in July 2020. However, the batch expired in July 2022.
NAFDAC warned that counterfeit medicines may contain incorrect, excessive, insufficient, or entirely absent active ingredients. They might also include harmful substances, potentially causing poisoning, treatment failure, or reduced drug efficacy.
The agency urged anyone in possession of these counterfeit products to immediately stop their sale or use and turn them over to the nearest NAFDAC office.
It further advised individuals who have used the counterfeit drugs, or know someone who has, to seek urgent medical attention from a qualified healthcare provider in case of any adverse reactions.
