The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has issued a public alert regarding the circulation of counterfeit Combiart Dispersible Tablet 20/120mg in Nigeria.
The agency disclosed this development on Thursday through a post on its official X (formerly Twitter) handle.
NAFDAC revealed that the fake product was discovered during surveillance operations conducted in the Federal Capital Territory (FCT) and Rivers State by officers of its Post Marketing Surveillance Directorate.
Laboratory tests on the product revealed alarming findings, including the absence of active pharmaceutical ingredients, rendering it ineffective for treating malaria.
Further investigations uncovered discrepancies in the product’s packaging, which displayed two conflicting date markings.
The manufacturer’s licence was found to have expired, while the NAFDAC registration number on the product was confirmed to be incorrect and unauthorised.
The counterfeit product is purportedly manufactured by Strides Arcolab Limited, based in Bangalore, India, with a batch number of 7225119. The listed manufacturing dates were June 2023 and February 2023, while the expiry dates were marked as May 2026 and June 2026, further highlighting the inconsistencies.
NAFDAC warned that counterfeit medicines pose severe risks to public health, as they fail to meet the required safety, quality, and efficacy standards.
The agency explained that such drugs are ineffective in treating ailments, potentially leading to health complications and, in extreme cases, death.
The agency has directed its zonal directors and state coordinators to intensify surveillance efforts to identify and remove the counterfeit product from circulation.
Importers, distributors, and retailers have been urged to remain vigilant and ensure that all medical products are sourced exclusively from licensed suppliers.
NAFDAC also advised consumers and healthcare professionals to report any suspected cases of substandard or falsified medicines.
Reports can be made through the agency’s hotline at 0800-162-3322, via email at sf.alert@nafdac.gov.ng or pharmacovigilance@nafdac.gov.ng, or by using the Med-Safety app available on Android and iOS. Additionally, incidents can be reported through the e-reporting platform on the NAFDAC website.
The agency assured the public that the alert would be shared with the World Health Organisation’s Global Surveillance and Monitoring System to ensure broader action against the counterfeit drug.
NAFDAC emphasized the importance of scrutinizing the authenticity of all medical products and obtaining them from authorized suppliers.
The agency reiterated its commitment to protecting public health and eradicating counterfeit drugs from Nigeria’s pharmaceutical market.