The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has raised the alarm over the circulation of counterfeit batches of Tecentriq 1200mg/20ml in Nigeria.
In a public notice issued on Friday, the agency said Tecentriq (atezolizumab) is an immunotherapy used in the treatment of several advanced cancers, including lung, liver, and melanoma.
NAFDAC disclosed that the Marketing Authorisation Holder, Roche Nigeria, received complaints from healthcare professionals after patients presented suspected counterfeit versions of the drug at medical facilities.
According to the agency, many of the counterfeit products were sold at significantly reduced prices, ranging between N180,000 and N350,000, raising suspicion among medical practitioners.
Investigations by Roche Nigeria, based on comparisons between submitted samples and genuine products, confirmed clear evidence of falsified packaging materials.
NAFDAC listed several discrepancies identified in the counterfeit batches, including:
- Batch numbers that do not correspond with genuine Roche records
- Noticeable differences in artwork and print quality
- Incorrect positioning of text and variable data
- Tamper-evident labels are inconsistent with the original products
- Serial numbers not aligned with Roche’s authentication system
The agency noted that laboratory analysis was not conducted, as the investigation relied on photographic evidence provided by complainants. One of the affected products identified is Tecentriq 1200mg/20ml with batch number B3071A12 and an expiry date of October 2026.
NAFDAC said it has directed all zonal directors and state coordinators to intensify surveillance and remove the counterfeit products from circulation nationwide.
It also urged importers, distributors, retailers, and healthcare providers to procure medicines only from authorised suppliers and to verify product authenticity before use.
The agency recalled earlier alerts on other falsified cancer medicines, including Avastin 400mg and versions of Phesgo 600mg.
In recent safety updates, NAFDAC also announced the recall of MR.7 SUPER 700000 male enhancement capsules over undeclared pharmaceutical ingredients, the withdrawal of multi-dose artemether/lumefantrine dry powder for oral suspension, and flagged a suspected revalidated SMA Gold infant formula in Kaduna State linked to illness in an infant.
Additionally, the agency warned about the circulation of falsified Dostinex 0.5mg tablets, noting that while the genuine product is registered, it has not yet been imported into Nigeria, making any available batches—such as GG3470, LG8659, and GG2440—potentially unsafe.
