By Biola Lawal
Abuja (Flowerbudnews) The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has alerted Nigerians of the illegal distribution and marketing of a substandard and falsified anti-malaria drug, Colamar (Artemether/Lumefantrine 20/120mg).
NAFDAC Director General, Prof Mojisola Adeyeye, who gave the warning via a public alert on the illegal product, described it as substandard and falsified.
Prof. Adeyeye disclosed that the falsified product ”is a pass-off of Lonart Suspension and has a fake NAFDAC Registration Number (NRN): B4-4065 which is a registration number of Malasyn Tablets (Dihydroartemisinin 40Mg, Piperaquine Phosphate 320Mg Tablets) which is the Company’s product whose certificate expired on 22/12/2019.”
The NAFDAC Boss explained that ”Artemether/Lumefantrine 20/120mg is an antimalarial medication used to treat acute uncomplicated malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum.”
Prof. Adeyeye warned that ”illegal marketing of medicines or counterfeit medicines poses a risk to people’s health, since by not complying with the regulatory provisions, the products’ safety, quality, and efficacy are not guaranteed.”
Details of the falsified ant-Malaria drug are Product details as follows:
Product Name: Colamar 20/120 Powder for Oral Suspension
Stated Active ingredients: Artemether/Lumefantrine 20/120m; Batch Number: ALD2424
; Manufacturing date: 02/2024; Expiry date: 01/2027; Stated NRN: B4-4065
Name and Address of Manufacturer: Archy Pharm. Nig Ltd., 30 Win Funke Street, Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, Ojokoro- Lagos, Nigeria.
Please note that the above NRN (NAFDAC Registration Number) is falsified.
Product picture
Prof. Adeyeye directed all NAFDAC zonal directors and state coordinators to carry out surveillance and mop up the substandard and falsified products within the zones and states.
She urged importers, distributors, retailers, healthcare professionals and caregivers to exercise caution and vigilance within the supply chain to avoid the importation, distribution, sale and use of the substandard and falsified product.
” All medical products must be obtained from authorized/licensed suppliers. The products’ authenticity and physical condition should be carefully checked,” the NAFDAC Boss counselled Nigerians.
She advised healthcare professionals and consumers to report any suspicion of the sale of substandard and falsified medicines or medical devices to the nearest NAFDAC office, NAFDAC on 0800-162-3322 or via email: sf.alert@nafdac.gov.ng
Prof Adeyeye also urged healthcare professionals and patients to report adverse events or side effects related to the use of medicinal products or devices to the nearest NAFDAC office, or through the use of the E-reporting platforms available on the NAFDAC website www.nafdac.gov.ng or via the Med- safety application available for download on android and IOS stores or via e-mail on pharmacovigilance@nafdac.g (Flowerbudnews)
