NAFDAC alerts Nigerians to fake Combiart tablets with zero active ingredients, urging vigilance and immediate reporting of suspicious products.
[dropcap]T[/dropcap]he National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has issued an urgent warning about the circulation of counterfeit Combiart Dispersible Tablets (20/120mg) across Nigeria.
These fake malaria drugs, purportedly manufactured by Strides Arcolab Limited in India, have been found in Abuja and Rivers State during routine surveillance.
Also read: NAFDAC alerts Nigerians to recall of Nivea Black & White invisible roll-on due to safety concerns
In an official statement on its X handle on Thursday, NAFDAC revealed that laboratory tests showed the counterfeit tablets contained no active pharmaceutical ingredients.
The product also displayed inconsistencies in its date markings and carried an invalid NAFDAC registration number, indicating it does not meet regulatory standards.
Key Details About the Counterfeit Drug:
- Batch Number: 7225119
- Manufacturing Dates: February 2023 and June 2023
- Expiry Dates: May 2026 and June 2026
- Manufacturer: Strides Arcolab Limited, Bangalore, India
- NAFDAC Registration Number: A11-0299 (invalid for this product)
NAFDAC confirmed that the product licence had expired and reiterated that Artemether and Lumefantrine, the active ingredients in genuine Combiart, are essential for treating uncomplicated malaria.
However, these counterfeit tablets pose severe health risks as they fail to treat malaria effectively, potentially leading to disease progression and even death.
NAFDAC has directed its zonal directors and state coordinators to immediately mop up the counterfeit product from the market.
The agency urged importers, distributors, retailers, and healthcare providers to exercise extreme caution in their supply chains to avoid procuring or selling counterfeit medicines.
“All medical products must be sourced from authorised suppliers, and their authenticity and physical condition should be carefully checked,” the agency advised.
NAFDAC has also encouraged the public to report suspected counterfeit medicines via:
- Hotline: 0800-162-3322
- Email: sf.alert@nafdac.gov.ng
- E-reporting Platforms: Available on the NAFDAC website and the Med-Safety app
The counterfeit Combiart tablets have been flagged for inclusion in the World Health Organisation’s Global Surveillance and Monitoring System.
This step underscores the broader public health risks associated with substandard medicines, especially in malaria-endemic regions like Nigeria.
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