National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has warned Nigerians about the circulation of counterfeit cancer medications in the country, raising fresh concerns over patient safety.
Gatekeepers News reports that the agency said fake versions of two widely used cancer drugs — Avastin (bevacizumab) and Tecentriq (atezolizumab) — have been detected in circulation.
NAFDAC explained that the alert followed complaints from healthcare professionals and confirmation from Roche Nigeria, the authorised distributor, which identified several counterfeit batches after comparing them with original samples.
The agency revealed that the fake drugs were often sold at suspiciously lower prices, ranging between ₦180,000 and ₦350,000, making them more attractive but dangerous alternatives for patients.
Investigations showed multiple irregularities, including incorrect batch numbers, poor printing quality, wrong label placement, and inconsistent serial numbers—clear signs the products were not genuine.
NAFDAC warned that such counterfeit medicines may contain harmful substances or no active ingredients at all, which could lead to treatment failure, worsening illness, or even death.
The agency has directed its officials nationwide to intensify surveillance and remove the fake products from circulation. It also urged Nigerians to purchase medicines only from authorised suppliers and report any suspicious drugs to the appropriate authorities.
