By Faith Adama
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has issued a public alert over counterfeit Combiart Dispersible Tablets (20/120mg) circulating in Nigeria.
NAFDAC has instructed its nationwide offices to remove the fake malaria drug, falsely attributed to Strides Arcolab Limited, India.
The counterfeit product was identified during surveillance in the Federal Capital Territory and Rivers State.
Laboratory analysis revealed that it contained no active pharmaceutical ingredients (APIs), rendering it ineffective for treating malaria.
Additionally, discrepancies were found in the labeling, including incorrect manufacturing and expiry dates.
Further investigations confirmed that the product’s license had expired, and the NAFDAC registration number on the packaging was invalid.
NAFDAC emphasized the serious health risks posed by counterfeit medicines, which can lead to ineffective treatment or harmful side effects.
The counterfeit product has batch number 7225119, with incorrect NAFDAC registration number A11-0299, and manufacturing dates of June and February 2023.
Its expiry dates are May and June 2026. It is falsely attributed to Strides Arcolab Limited, India.
NAFDAC has urged importers, distributors, healthcare providers, and the public to be vigilant and report any suspicious products.
Suspected substandard medicines can be reported to NAFDAC through its hotline, email, or e-reporting platforms.
This alert has also been shared with the World Health Organization’s Global Surveillance and Monitoring System for global awareness.
