NAFDAC Warns Over Fake Diabetes Drugs

NAFDAC advised consumers and healthcare professionals to purchase medicines only from licensed pharmacies and authorised distributors and to carefully inspect product labels and packaging before use.

NAFDAC has alerted Nigerians to the circulation of suspected counterfeit diabetes medicines designed to imitate Forxiga (dapagliflozin), warning that the products pose serious health risks and could undermine treatment for patients with chronic conditions.

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) disclosed the warning on Thursday, saying the suspected fake medicines were uncovered during market surveillance conducted by pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca.

According to the agency, AstraZeneca notified NAFDAC after identifying products bearing names closely resembling its registered Forxiga® brand and imitating the company's logo and packaging.

NAFDAC explained that genuine Forxiga® (dapagliflozin) is prescribed to improve blood sugar control in people living with Type 2 diabetes. It is also used to reduce the risk of cardiovascular death and hospitalisation in patients with heart failure, while slowing the progression of chronic kidney disease.

The agency warned that counterfeit medicines may contain incorrect ingredients, the wrong dosage, harmful contaminants, or no active pharmaceutical ingredient at all.

"Use of such products may result in treatment failure, worsening of the underlying medical condition, adverse health consequences, or other serious risks to patient safety," NAFDAC said.

The agency said the counterfeit products were detected in Nigeria's eastern region.

One of the suspected counterfeit products, marketed as Forzigar, bears batch number ATE-262, with a manufacturing date of March 2025, an expiry date of February 2028, and lists Alliaance Biotech as the manufacturer.

The second product, labelled Foziga, carries batch number GIB405-, with a manufacturing date of June 2024, an expiry date of May 2027, and identifies Medico Remedies Ltd as the manufacturer.

NAFDAC stressed that the authentic medicine is marketed as Forxiga® (dapagliflozin), a film-coated tablet manufactured by AstraZeneca.

The agency said investigations were underway to trace the source and distribution network of the suspected counterfeit products.

It added that all zonal directors and state coordinators had been directed to intensify market surveillance and remove any counterfeit medicines found in circulation.

NAFDAC advised consumers and healthcare professionals to purchase medicines only from licensed pharmacies and authorised distributors and to carefully inspect product labels and packaging before use.

The agency also urged members of the public to report any suspected substandard or falsified medicines to the nearest NAFDAC office.