Warning issued by NAFDAC over bogus versions of cancer medications Avastin and Tecentriq

Nigeria is grappling with a serious health crisis as the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has sounded the alarm over the widespread circulation of counterfeit cancer medicines, specifically Avastin and Tecentriq, which puts patients at risk of death.

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According to NAFDAC, the counterfeit medicines have infiltrated the country's drug supply chain, with fake batches of Avastin 400mg/16ml and Tecentriq 1200mg/20ml being sold to unsuspecting patients, posing a significant threat to public health.

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NAFDAC issued a public alert on Thursday, confirming that the counterfeit products were identified after the agency received official communication from Roche Nigeria, following multiple complaints from healthcare professionals across the country.

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The agency warned that the counterfeit oncology products, which include Avastin used to treat recurrent glioblastoma in adults and Tecentriq prescribed for advanced cancers such as lung cancer, liver cancer, and melanoma, pose a serious threat to patient safety and treatment outcomes.

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Investigations by NAFDAC revealed that the counterfeit medicines were often sold at suspiciously lower prices, ranging from N180,000 to N350,000, with several cases coming to light after patients presented suspected fake drugs at hospitals.

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The Marketing Authorisation Holder reported receiving complaints from healthcare professionals nationwide, prompting NAFDAC to investigate, which led to the discovery of clear evidence of counterfeit packaging materials.

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An oncologist had earlier raised concerns about certain Avastin vials, prompting further scrutiny, which ultimately led to the identification of specific counterfeit batches, including Avastin with batch numbers H4239A70, H2290A34, and A3508B02, as well as Tecentriq batch B3071A12.

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The counterfeit products were found to have multiple red flags, including batch numbers that do not exist in the manufacturer's database, poor-quality printing, and spelling errors, making them easily identifiable as fake.

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NADFAC noted that the batch numbers of the counterfeit products do not exist in the Roche database, making lot tracing impossible, and warned that counterfeit cancer medicines can contain incorrect or no active ingredients, harmful contaminants, or wrong dosage strength.

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The agency cautioned that using counterfeit cancer medicines could result in treatment failure, disease progression, serious adverse events, or death, highlighting the devastating consequences of using these fake products.

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NAFDAC disclosed that chemical analysis could not be conducted as no physical samples were available, with investigations relying on photographic evidence submitted by complainants.

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The agency has directed all zonal directors and state coordinators to intensify surveillance and immediately "mop up the counterfeit products" within their jurisdictions to prevent further harm to patients.

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NAFDAC has also urged importers, distributors, healthcare professionals, and patients to remain vigilant and ensure that medicines are sourced only from authorised and licensed suppliers to prevent the circulation of counterfeit products.

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Members of the public are encouraged to report suspected counterfeit or substandard medicines through NAFDAC offices, its hotline, or via email to help the agency in its efforts to combat the circulation of fake medicines.