The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has seized a suspected fake antimalarial drug, Artemether/Lumefantrine 80mg/480mg, from a wholesale centre in Kano State.
The agency said the product, purportedly manufactured by Bandaram Pharma Packleh Ltd (BPPL), India, was intercepted during routine post-market surveillance and classified as a falsified medical product.
In a public alert issued on Thursday, NAFDAC warned healthcare providers, medicine distributors, retailers, Patent and Proprietary Medicine Vendors (PPMVs) and members of the public against the purchase, sale, supply or use of the product.
According to the agency, the product was intercepted at the Coordinated Wholesale Centre (CWC) in Kano State.
NAFDAC said verification showed that the registration number, 02-3457, displayed on the product was fake and did not exist in its registration database.
The agency also noted that the product label did not contain details of the Marketing Authorisation Holder, a key requirement for registered medicines.
NAFDAC warned that circulation and use of the suspected falsified medicine could result in treatment failure, worsening malaria infections and the development of drug resistance.
It advised healthcare professionals and members of the public to obtain medicines only from authorised and licensed suppliers and to verify the authenticity of medical products before use.
The agency also urged consumers and healthcare providers to report any suspected sale, distribution or use of the affected product to the nearest NAFDAC office or through its designated reporting channels.