NAFDAC has issued an urgent warning over fake BETACLOX Antibiotic circulating in Nigeria.
NaijaOnPoint Nigeria reports that the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has raised an urgent public health alert after discovering a suspected substandard and falsified (SF) pharmaceutical product in Nigeria’s drug market.
The counterfeit medicine, identified as BETACLOX (Ampicillin 250mg and Cloxacillin 250mg), was found to contain fraudulent registration details and originated from an unverified source, posing a serious risk to public health and safety.
According to NAFDAC’s investigation, the fake BETACLOX was procured from Gambori Market in Maiduguri, Borno State, by a distributor based in Kano, and later supplied to a retail outlet in Zaria, Kaduna State, where suspicions were raised and reported to authorities.
Further investigation revealed that the NAFDAC registration number (A4-4724) printed on the fake product’s packaging actually belongs to a different medicine, Mebendazole 500mg manufactured by Chi Ltd. This, the agency confirmed, is a clear case of registration number misappropriation.
The packaging also falsely lists Freeview Pharmaceutical Ltd as the importer, with the address No. 128 MCC Road, Calabar, while the genuine registered premises are located at No. 101 MCC Road, Calabar, Cross River State. The mismatch further deepens doubts about the product’s authenticity.
The fake antibiotic was purportedly manufactured by Saeny Laboratory Pvt. Ltd., Kerala, India, with the following details:
NAFDAC warned that the falsified version of BETACLOX, an antibiotic used for treating bacterial infections of the respiratory tract, skin, urinary tract, and gastrointestinal system, could lead to ineffective treatment, worsening illness, or accelerated antimicrobial resistance.
The agency reiterated that the sale of unregistered and substandard medicines poses grave risks to public health, undermining efforts to maintain drug quality, safety, and efficacy in Nigeria.
NAFDAC also recalled previous alerts about fake versions of Postinor-2, Chloroquine Phosphate tablets, and Trastuzumab (Herceptin® 600 mg/5 ml) found in circulation across parts of Nigeria and neighboring countries, stressing that counterfeit drugs continue to threaten lives and the credibility of the nation’s pharmaceutical supply chain.
The agency urged Nigerians to purchase medicines only from licensed pharmacies and immediately report any suspicious or unregistered products to the nearest NAFDAC office or via its official contact channels.