In the year 2023, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) played a pivotal role in safeguarding public health by recalling and banning several drugs due to safety and quality concerns. These actions, initiated by NAFDAC, aimed at addressing issues such as manufacturing flaws, contamination, and the distribution of counterfeit medications that could potentially harm consumers. Here are 10 drugs that faced recalls or bans by NAFDAC in 2023:
- Coartem 20/120mg tablets (Green pack)
- Recall Date: March 8, 2023
- NAFDAC discovered falsified Coartem tablets in the North Central zone, prompting a ban on the sale of the green blister packs after the manufacturer, Novartis, confirmed the discontinuation of authentic versions.
- Norvasc 5mg tablets
- Recall Date: March 28, 2023
- NAFDAC alerted the public about the recall of six million tablets from two batches of Norvasc 5mg produced by Viatris due to the discovery of iron wires inside the tablets, highlighting potential risks to high blood pressure patients.
- Herceptin 600mg/5ml injection
- Recall Date: April 2, 2023
- A counterfeit batch of Herceptin 600mg/5ml was recalled after confirmation of distribution in Abuja, despite the marketing holder, Roche, stating that the injection was never shipped to Nigeria. Herceptin is crucial in treating HER2-positive breast cancer.
- Falsified Ozempic (semaglutide) pen
- Recall Date: May 2, 2023
- NAFDAC recalled a batch of Ozempic pens in Nigeria after Novo Nordisk confirmed falsification. Ozempic is used to treat diabetes and reduce cardiovascular events in adults with diabetes.
- Paracetamol suspension
- Recall Date: Not specified
- NAFDAC banned Para Clear, a substandard paracetamol suspension from Liberia, due to toxic ethylene glycol, which poses severe health risks, including altered mental states and acute kidney injury.
- Original Chest and Lung tablets
- Recall Date: June 21, 2023
- NAFDAC warned the public about an unregistered substandard drug product named “Original Chest and Lung tablets” circulating in Nigeria, emphasizing its prohibition in the Nigerian market.
- Dostinex tablets
- Recall Date: June 24, 2023
- NAFDAC alerted the public about counterfeit Dostinex circulating in Nigeria, emphasizing that the counterfeit products had an expiry date (08/2024) inconsistent with the data matrix. Dostinex is used to treat conditions related to the overproduction of the hormone, Prolactin.
- Artequin 600/750 tablets
- Recall Date: Not specified
- NAFDAC issued an alert following the distribution of counterfeit Artequin 600/750 tablets in Onitsha and Kaduna, stressing that the license for this medicine had expired and it should not be found within the country.
- Anthrax vaccines
- Recall Date: September 1, 2023
- NAFDAC discovered fake anthrax vaccines circulating in Nasarawa, Kaduna, Kwara, and Oyo states during the anthrax outbreak, revealing that the fake vaccines contained plain water and, in some cases, sugar and water.
- Meropenem 1g injections
- Recall Date: November 19, 2023
- NAFDAC recalled a counterfeit batch of Meropenem 1g injections after Pfizer reported that the vial’s contents did not dissolve, emphasizing potential risks to patients relying on this antibiotic for various bacterial infections.
In each case, NAFDAC promptly alerted the public, emphasizing the importance of adhering to safety measures. These recalls and bans underscore NAFDAC’s commitment to ensuring the safety and efficacy of pharmaceuticals in Nigeria.
Source: Nairametrics
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