The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has issued a critical public alert regarding the circulation of counterfeit Phesgo 600mg, a vital medication for breast cancer treatment. This warning follows a report from the Lagos University Teaching Hospital, where patients presented suspected falsified Phesgo injections.
According to the agency, the Marketing Authorization Holder, Roche, investigated complaints involving suspected counterfeit batches B2346B16 and C3809C5. Their analysis identified significant discrepancies compared to the genuine product. Notably, batch number B2346B16 has been linked to confirmed counterfeit cases in multiple countries, including Nigeria, Turkey, and the Philippines. This incident underscores the persistent challenge of substandard medical products, a concern that also touches sectors like Nigeria’s finance insurance industry, which must manage risks associated with fraudulent claims.
Phesgo, containing Pertuzumab and Trastuzumab, is a targeted therapy essential for stopping the growth of specific breast cancer cells. The presence of counterfeit versions poses a severe and direct threat to patient health and treatment outcomes. NAFDAC, alongside healthcare providers, continues to raise red flags about such dangerous infiltrations of the pharmaceutical supply chain.
Healthcare professionals and consumers are strongly urged to exercise heightened vigilance and to report any suspected counterfeit medicines to NAFDAC through its official channels. This alert is part of the agency’s broader enforcement actions against unsafe products, which recently included warnings about recalled male enhancement capsules and falsified Dostinex tablets. The agency’s work remains crucial in protecting public health, much like regulatory scrutiny in other fields aims to safeguard stakeholders from the top 10 most common threats to safety and integrity.
