The public has been alerted by the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) to two batches of fake Avastin 400mg/16ml cancer medications that are on the loose in Nigeria.
In Kano and Abuja, the impacted batches, H0223B08 and H4239A70, were shown to pose a major risk to cancer patients’ health.
The alert described the details of the fake goods and urged greater attention. It was posted on NAFDAC’s official X handle on Thursday.
NAFDAC claims that Roche, the Marketing Authorization Holder (MAH), informed the agency that a pharmacist had discovered that a patient had purchased counterfeit Avastin Vials 400 mg/16 ml, batch H0223B08, from a Kano pharmacy.
“This batch was previously announced in a prior NAFDAC public alert.” A pharmacist at the Federal Medical Center in Abuja also detected 400 mg/16 ml counterfeit Avastin vials, batch H4239A70.
“But research has shown that the real batch number H0223B08 is linked to Avastin 400mg/16ml in Vietnamese makeup; the real product was shipped to Vietnam in July 2020, and the batch H0223B08 has already expired in July 2022,” NAFDAC stated.
Additionally, according to NAFDAC, the inquiry showed that Avastin 400 mg/16 ml with batch number H4239A70 could not be traced because it is not a genuine Roche product and the batch number is not in their database.
The 400 mg injection of Avastin is an anticancer drug. Colon and rectal cancer, non-small cell lung cancer, kidney cancer, brain tumors, ovarian, and cervical cancer are among the conditions it is used to treat.
“It stops tumors from growing and helps to prevent the growth of new blood vessels that feed tumors,” the FDA said.
NAFDAC cautions that fake medications might be dangerous to one’s health because they are disguised as genuine.
It can lead to poisoning, treatment failure, and reduced drug effectiveness, the statement reads. It may contain the wrong ingredients, too much, too little, or no active ingredient at all.
Information about the fake batches
The H0223B08 batch was manufactured in May 2023 and ended in July 2026.
The H4239A70 batch was manufactured in March 2024 and ended in October 2026.
Genuine Avastin 400mg/16ml vials should be manufactured at Roche Diagnostics GmbH, Sandhofer Strasse 11668305, Mannheim, Germany.
NAFDAC calls for supply chain vigilance.
In order to prevent the importation, distribution, sale, and use of fake Avastin, NAFDAC urges importers, distributors, retailers, and consumers to be cautious and vigilant.
The organization recommended that the validity and physical quality of all medical items be carefully checked, and that they should only be purchased from approved or licensed vendors.
It is recommended that anyone in possession of any of the fake lots stop selling or using them right now and turn in their inventory to the NAFDAC office that is closest to them.
NAFDAC warns, “You are advised to seek immediate medical advice from a qualified healthcare professional if you have used any of the products, or someone you know has used them, or if you have experienced any adverse reaction/event after using them.”
It is recommended that consumers and healthcare professionals report any suspicions of counterfeit or subpar medications to the NAFDAC office that is closest to them at 0800-162-3322 or by email at sf.alert@nafdac.gov.ng.
In a similar vein, patients and healthcare providers are encouraged to report any negative events or side effects associated with the use of the medication to the NAFDAC office that is closest to them, via the E-reporting platforms on the NAFDAC website, www.nafdac.gov.ng, the Med-safety application that can be downloaded from the Android and iOS stores, or by sending an email to pharmacovigilance@nafdac.gov.ng.
