Thursday, March, 19 2026 - The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control, NAFDAC, has issued a grave warning to the Nigerian public and medical community over the discovery of counterfeit batches of two critical cancer medications, Avastin and Tecentriq.
The regulatory body revealed that the fake drugs are
currently being sold across the country, posing a severe threat to patients
battling advanced cancers.
However, in a statement issued by NAFDAC on Wednesday, the
agency confirmed that the counterfeit batches of Avastin and Tecentriq are in
circulation across the country.
The alarm was triggered following official reports from
Roche Nigeria, the company authorised to distribute the genuine products.
According to the agency, healthcare providers raised
concerns after patients turned up at medical centres with suspicious vials they
had purchased from unauthorised sources.
Avastin is a vital therapy used to treat brain tumours in
adults, while Tecentriq is a specialised immunotherapy used for lung, liver,
and skin cancers. The agency warned that using these fake versions is a gamble
with life itself.
The counterfeit drugs were reportedly sold at significantly
lower prices, ranging between NGN 180,000 and NGN 350,000. Patients have, in
several instances, brought these suspicious products to healthcare facilities,
prompting investigations by Roche Nigeria.
According to NAFDAC, investigations revealed clear
differences between the counterfeit products and genuine Roche items. “Batch
numbers do not correspond to genuine Roche batches. There are differences in
artwork and printing quality, wrong placement of text, inconsistent
tamper-evident labels, and serial numbers that do not match the genuine Roche
serialisation system,” the alert stated.
The agency noted that chemical analyses could not be
conducted as the investigation relied solely on photographs of the packaging
submitted by complainants, with no physical samples returned to Roche.
NAFDAC warned that counterfeit oncology medicines may
contain incorrect or no active ingredients, harmful contaminants, or incorrect
dosage strengths.
“This may result in treatment failure, disease progression,
serious adverse events, or death,” the agency stated.
The specific fake batches identified include Avastin 400mg
with batch numbers H4239A70, H2290A34, and A3508B02. Also flagged is Tecentriq
1200mg with batch number B3071A12.
To protect citizens, NAFDAC has directed its zonal directors
and state coordinators to immediately begin a nationwide sweep to mop up these
dangerous items from the market.
The agency further advised importers, doctors, and
caregivers to be extremely vigilant and ensure they only buy medicines from
licensed and reputable suppliers.
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