The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has issued a critical alert regarding counterfeit anti-malaria medication circulating in Nigeria. The fake product, a suspension of Cikatem (Artemether 180mg/Lumefantrine 1080mg), was recently discovered at the Coordinated Wholesale Centre in Kano. This discovery followed a complaint from a concerned consumer, prompting a thorough investigation by NAFDAC’s Post-Marketing Surveillance officers.
According to NAFDAC, the counterfeit suspension was falsely registered under the same number as the genuine Cikatem tablets, which led to confusion between the two products. The counterfeit suspension, intended for treating malaria in children, was found to have several discrepancies in its packaging, making it difficult to differentiate from the original.
The agency confirmed that all counterfeit Cikatem suspensions discovered during the investigation have been removed from circulation. The fraudulent product bore an incorrect registration number (A11-100025), which is associated with Cikatem tablets (20/120mg) and not the oral suspension formulation.
NAFDAC’s ongoing surveillance efforts have resulted in the suspension of production at the facility responsible for the counterfeit drugs. A total of 17,280 bottles of the fake suspension were destroyed as part of the operation.
Public Health Alert:
Counterfeit medicines pose a severe risk to public health, as they fail to meet regulatory standards, potentially leading to ineffective treatment, severe health complications, or even death. NAFDAC emphasized that the safety, quality, and efficacy of these products cannot be guaranteed.
Product Details:
- Manufacturing Date: 10/2024
- Expiry Date: 09/2027
- Registration Number: A11-100025
- Manufacturer: Michelle Laboratories
- Address: Plot 23, Block 2, Thinkers Corner Industrial Layout, P.O. Box 2709, Enugu, Nigeria
NAFDAC urges all stakeholders, including distributors, healthcare professionals, and caregivers, to remain vigilant in monitoring the supply chain to prevent the circulation of counterfeit drugs. The agency further advises that all medical products should be sourced from authorized suppliers, and their authenticity and condition should be carefully verified.
Healthcare professionals and patients are encouraged to report any adverse reactions or side effects related to medicinal products through NAFDAC’s E-reporting platforms available on its website or the Med-safety app.
In related news, PUNCH Healthwise reports that NAFDAC has ramped up efforts to combat counterfeit drug production and distribution. Recently, the agency destroyed counterfeit drugs worth an estimated N100 billion in a three-week operation targeting major drug markets across the country.
