The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has issued a public warning over the circulation of counterfeit cancer medicines, Avastin and Tecentriq, within Nigeria’s pharmaceutical market.
In an official alert, the agency disclosed that confirmed fake batches of Avastin 400mg/16ml (bevacizumab) and Tecentriq 1200mg/20ml (atezolizumab) have been detected in circulation, posing serious health risks to patients undergoing cancer treatment.
Avastin is commonly prescribed for adults with recurrent glioblastoma, while Tecentriq is an immunotherapy used to treat multiple advanced cancers, including lung cancer, liver cancer, and melanoma.
NAFDAC said the alert followed a formal notification from Roche Nigeria, the marketing authorization holder for both medicines, after it received multiple complaints from healthcare professionals across the country.
According to the agency, several suspected counterfeit products were brought to health facilities by patients, with the drugs reportedly sold at unusually low prices ranging between N180,000 and N350,000—far below standard market rates.
Investigations by Roche Nigeria revealed that the suspect products differed significantly from genuine versions. The agency noted that batch numbers on the counterfeit medicines did not match authentic Roche records.
Further discrepancies included poor-quality printing, altered artwork, incorrect placement of text, and inconsistencies in variable data. Tamper-evident seals and serial numbers were also found to be irregular and inconsistent with Roche’s verification system.
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NAFDAC listed specific counterfeit batches already identified in circulation. These include Avastin 400mg/16ml with batch numbers H4239A70, H2290A34, and A3508B02, as well as Tecentriq 1200mg/20ml with batch number B3071A12.
However, the agency noted that laboratory analysis could not be conducted, as investigations relied on photographic evidence submitted by complainants, with no physical samples available for testing.
The agency warned that counterfeit oncology medicines may contain incorrect or no active ingredients, harmful substances, or improper dosage levels. Such risks, it said, could result in treatment failure, worsening of disease, severe adverse reactions, or even death.
In response, NAFDAC has directed all zonal directors and state coordinators to intensify surveillance efforts and immediately remove the counterfeit products from circulation across the country.
NAFDAC urged importers, distributors, healthcare providers, and patients to exercise caution and ensure that medicines are obtained only from authorized and verified suppliers.
The agency also encouraged the public to promptly report any suspected substandard or falsified medicines through its offices, hotlines, and official reporting platforms, as part of efforts to safeguard public health and maintain the integrity of Nigeria’s drug supply chain.