NAFDAC warns public against counterfeit cancer drug, Avastin in Nigeria 

The affected batches, H0223B08 and H4239A70, were identified in Kano and Abuja, posing a serious health risk to cancer patients.

The alert, published on NAFDAC’s official X handle on Thursday, outlined the specifics of the counterfeit products and called for increased vigilance.

According to NAFDAC, the Marketing Authorization Holder (MAH) Roche notified the agency that a pharmacist reported the purchase of the counterfeited Avastin Vials 400 mg/16 ml, batch H0223B08 by a patient from a pharmacy in Kano.

“This batch has earlier been published in a previous public alert from NAFDAC.  

“Similarly, another counterfeited Avastin Vials 400 mg/16 ml, batch H4239A70 was reported by a Pharmacist in the Federal Medical Center, in Abuja. 

“However, investigation has confirmed that the genuine batch number H0223B08 is associated with Avastin 400mg/16ml in Vietnamese make-up, the genuine product was distributed to Vietnam in July 2020, and the batch H0223B08 already expired in July 2022,” NAFDAC noted.

NAFDAC also said the investigation revealed that no batch tracing was possible for Avastin 400mg/16ml with batch no H4239A70 as this is not a genuine Roche product and the batch number doesn’t exist in their database.

“Avastin 400mg Injection is an anticancer medication. It is used in the treatment of cancer of the colon and rectum, non-small cell lung cancer, kidney cancer, brain tumor, ovarian and cervical cancer.  

“It helps to prevent the growth of new blood vessels that feed tumors and stops tumors from growing,” the agency explained.

NAFDAC warns that counterfeit medicines may be harmful to health because while being passed off as authentic.

“It may contain the wrong ingredients, contain too much, too little or no active ingredient at all or contain other harmful ingredients and can result to poisoning, treatment failure and compromised drug effectiveness.” 

The correct manufacturing site for genuine Avastin vial 400mg/16ml is Roche Diagnostics GmbH, Sandhofer Strasse 11668305, Mannheim, Germany.

NAFDAC calls on importers, distributors, retailers, and consumers to exercise caution and vigilance to avoid the importation, distribution, sale, and use of counterfeit Avastin.

The agency advised that all medical products must be obtained only from authorized or licensed suppliers, and their authenticity and physical condition should be thoroughly verified.

“Anyone in possession of any of the counterfeit lots is advised to immediately discontinue sale or use and submit stock to the nearest NAFDAC office.  

“Anyone in possession of any of the counterfeit lots is advised to immediately discontinue sale or use and submit stock to the nearest NAFDAC office.  

“If you have used any of the products, or someone you know, has used it, or suffered any adverse reaction/event after use, you are advised to seek immediate medical advice from a qualified healthcare professional,” NAFDAC cautions.

Healthcare professionals and consumers are advised to report any suspicion of substandard and falsified medicines to the nearest NAFDAC office, NAFDAC on 0800-162-3322 or via email: [email protected]

Similarly, healthcare professionals and patients are also encouraged to report adverse events or side effects related to the use of the medicinal product to the nearest NAFDAC office, or through the use of the E-reporting platforms available on the NAFDAC website www.nafdac.gov.ng or via the Med-safety application available for download on android and IOS stores or via e-mail on [email protected] .