The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has issued a public alert regarding a counterfeit cancer treatment drug, Phesgo 600mg/600mg/10ml, with batch number C5290S20.

In a statement (Alert No. 051/2024) on its website, NAFDAC revealed that Roche, the drug’s Marketing Authorisation Holder (MAH), flagged the counterfeit batch after receiving a complaint from a doctor at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH-NSIA). The suspect product had not been administered but bore similarities to a previously reported counterfeit batch, C3809C51.

Phesgo is a prescribed breast cancer treatment that works by targeting and killing cancer cells, preventing their growth. However, NAFDAC warned that counterfeit medicines pose significant health risks, as they fail to meet regulatory standards, undermining safety, quality, and effectiveness.

In response, the agency has directed all zonal directors and state coordinators to intensify surveillance and remove counterfeit products from circulation. The public, particularly healthcare providers, has been urged to report any suspected counterfeit medicines promptly.