The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has alerted Nigerians about counterfeit cancer medicines circulating in the country.
The affected drugs are Avastin, used to treat recurrent glioblastoma in adults, and Tecentriq, an immunotherapy for several advanced cancers including lung, liver, and skin cancers.
The warning came after Roche Nigeria reported cases of fake products following complaints from healthcare workers nationwide.
Patients were said to have brought suspicious medicines to hospitals, and the fake drugs were reportedly sold at much lower prices than the genuine versions, ranging from 180,000 to 350,000 naira.
Investigations revealed differences in packaging, printing quality, text placement, and serial numbers compared to the genuine products. NAFDAC identified specific counterfeit batches of Avastin and Tecentriq circulating in the market.
The agency noted that chemical tests could not be conducted because the investigation relied on photographs of the packaging rather than physical samples.
Authorities cautioned that these counterfeit medicines may contain the wrong or no active ingredients, harmful contaminants, or incorrect dosage, which could lead to failed treatments, worsening disease, severe side effects, or death.
NAFDAC directed zonal and state offices to increase monitoring and remove the fake products from circulation.
The agency urged importers, distributors, healthcare workers, and patients to buy medicines only from authorized sources and to report suspected fake or substandard drugs through official channels or hotlines.
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