The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has issued a warning about a fake cancer drug circulating in Nigeria. The counterfeit drug, labeled as Phesgo 600mg/600mg/10ml with batch number C5290S20, was flagged after a report from the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH-NSIA).

NAFDAC’s alert highlights the dangers of counterfeit medicines, urging Nigerians to remain cautious and avoid these fake products.

Phesgo is a genuine breast cancer treatment used to kill cancer cells and stop their spread. Unfortunately, the counterfeit version was brought to light by a concerned doctor who noticed discrepancies in the product’s packaging.

Upon investigation, Roche, the authorized distributor of Phesgo, confirmed the drug’s counterfeit status. The fake product showed several red flags, including:

• Missing batch number in the official database.
• Errors in language and label details.
• Incorrect safety seals and tamper labels.

Although the drug hadn’t been administered, its presence raises significant health concerns.

Counterfeit medicines like this pose serious risks because they:

• Lack the active ingredients required to treat illnesses.
• Can cause harmful side effects.
• Undermine trust in genuine medical products.

To combat the issue, NAFDAC has:

• Ordered zonal directors and state coordinators to inspect and remove fake drugs from markets.
• Encouraged healthcare providers and distributors to only source medicines from authorized suppliers.

Here are steps to protect yourself:

1. Purchase medicines from licensed pharmacies and suppliers.
2. Inspect product labels for errors or signs of tampering.
3. Report suspicious drugs to NAFDAC using their toll-free number (0800-162-3322), email (sf.alert@nafdac.gov.ng), or the Med-Safety app.

If you experience side effects or suspect a medicine is fake, contact NAFDAC immediately. Adverse reactions can also be reported via email at pharmacovigilance@nafdac.gov.ng.

NAFDAC has shared this alert with the World Health Organization (WHO) Global Surveillance and Monitoring System to ensure international action against counterfeit medicines.

Fake medicines are a serious public health threat. Stay vigilant, verify the authenticity of your medicines, and report any suspicious drugs. Together, we can help stop the spread of counterfeit medical products.