The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has issued a warning over the circulation of falsified cancer medicines, Avastin and Tecentriq, currently being distributed within Nigeria’s pharmaceutical supply chain, raising serious concerns about patient safety and treatment effectiveness.
In a public statement released on Thursday, the agency confirmed that counterfeit versions of Avastin 400mg/16ml (Bevacizumab) and Tecentriq 1200mg/20ml (Atezolizumab) had been detected in the country.
“These counterfeit oncology products pose a serious threat to public health,” NAFDAC warned, noting that the alert followed official communication from Roche Nigeria after it received multiple complaints from healthcare professionals across the country.
Avastin is used in the management of recurrent glioblastoma in adults, while Tecentriq is prescribed for various advanced cancers, including lung, liver, and melanoma cases.
According to the regulator, the issue came to light after patients and medical personnel raised suspicions about certain products being administered in healthcare facilities.
Further investigations showed that the drugs were being circulated at unusually low prices, reportedly between ₦180,000 and ₦350,000.
“The Marketing Authorisation Holder reported receiving complaints from healthcare professionals across Nigeria,” NAFDAC stated.
“On investigation, clear evidence of counterfeit packaging materials was established.”
An oncologist had earlier flagged concerns regarding specific Avastin vials, which triggered deeper scrutiny and subsequent confirmation of irregularities.
NAFDAC identified several fake batches, including Avastin batch numbers H4239A70, H2290A34, and A3508B02, as well as Tecentriq batch B3071A12.
The agency highlighted multiple warning signs observed on the counterfeit products, such as non-existent batch numbers in the manufacturer’s database, poor printing quality, spelling mistakes, incorrect information layout, inconsistent tamper-evident seals, and invalid serial numbers.
“The batch number does not exist in the Roche database, making lot tracing impossible,” the agency noted.
NAFDAC further cautioned that fake cancer medications may contain “incorrect or no active ingredients, harmful contaminants, or wrong dosage strength,” warning of severe health implications.
“This could result in treatment failure, disease progression, serious adverse events, or death,” the agency cautioned.
However, it added that laboratory analysis could not be completed because no physical samples were submitted, with the investigation relying solely on photographic evidence provided by complainants.
NAFDAC has now instructed its zonal offices and state coordinators to strengthen surveillance efforts and immediately remove any identified counterfeit products from circulation.
It also urged importers, distributors, healthcare providers, and patients to exercise extreme caution and ensure that all medicines are obtained strictly from licensed and authorised suppliers.
“Ensure medicines are sourced only from authorised and licensed suppliers,” NAFDAC advised.
Members of the public have been encouraged to report suspected fake or substandard medicines through NAFDAC offices, its hotline (0800-162-3322), or via email at [email protected].
