Posted by Samuel on Thu 26th Mar, 2026 - tori.ng
The agency disclosed in a statement that the alert followed official communication from Roche Nigeria, which confirmed the presence of a fake batch of the cancer drug with batch number A8519B34 in Lagos State.
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has issued a warning to healthcare professionals and the public about the circulation of a confirmed counterfeit batch of Herceptin 600 mg in Nigeria.
The agency disclosed in a statement that the alert followed official communication from Roche Nigeria, which confirmed the presence of a fake batch of the cancer drug with batch number A8519B34 in Lagos State.
“The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) is notifying healthcare professionals and the public of a confirmed counterfeit batch of Herceptin 600 mg circulating in Nigeria. This alert follows official communications from Roche Nigeria confirming a counterfeit case of Herceptin 600 mg with batch number A8519B34 reported in Lagos State, Nigeria,” the statement said.
Herceptin, also known as trastuzumab, is a prescription medicine used in the treatment of certain types of breast and stomach cancer. It works by slowing or stopping the growth of cancer cells and is usually given through injection or infusion, often alongside chemotherapy.
According to NAFDAC, the issue came to light after a complaint from a customer, who reported that the suspected fake product was offered by a pharmacist in Lagos at a significantly lower price of N50,000 compared to the standard market rate.
“According to the Marketing Authorization Holder (MAH), the report of a counterfeit batch of Herceptin 600 mg was received as a complaint from a customer. The counterfeited batch of the product was said to have been offered to a customer by a pharmacist in Lagos at a significantly lower price of N50,000 compared to the standard rate,” the statement added.
The agency explained that Roche Nigeria, as the Marketing Authorization Holder (MAH), carried out a comparison between images of the suspected counterfeit product and the original packaging of Herceptin 600 mg. The findings showed clear differences.
“On investigation, the MAH (Roche Nigeria) compared the pictures of the counterfeit Herceptin 600 mg provided by the complainant to the genuine packaging material of Herceptin 600 mg. The comparison revealed significant differences from genuine packaging material, which include wrong artwork, wrong expiry date, and incorrect 2D matrix code,” the statement noted.
NAFDAC further noted that it was not possible to trace the batch, as the number used on the counterfeit product does not exist in the official records of the manufacturer.
“The lot tracing is not possible because the batch number A8519B34 is not a genuine Roche batch number for Herceptin. Chemical analysis was not possible because the physical sample was not available for return,” the statement said.
The agency warned that counterfeit cancer drugs pose serious health risks to patients, including treatment failure and possible death.
“Counterfeit oncology medicines may contain incorrect or no active ingredients, harmful contaminants, or incorrect dosage strength. This may result in treatment failure, disease progression, serious adverse events, or death,” the statement warned.
NAFDAC provided details of the counterfeit product to guide identification. The fake drug is labelled as Herceptin 600 mg, with the stated manufacturer listed as F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd, Kaiseraugst, Switzerland. It carries batch number A8519B34, a manufacturing date of January 2024, and an expiry date of November 2026.
The agency clarified that the genuine Herceptin 600 mg is produced by F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd in Basel, at the Kaiseraugst site in Switzerland.
Following the discovery, NAFDAC has directed all its zonal directors and state coordinators to intensify surveillance and ensure the removal of the counterfeit product from circulation.
“All NAFDAC zonal directors and state coordinators have been directed to carry out surveillance and mop up the counterfeit product within the zones and states,” the statement said.
The agency also urged importers, distributors, retailers, healthcare workers, and caregivers to remain vigilant and avoid dealing in fake medical products.
“Importers, distributors, retailers, healthcare professionals, and caregivers are hereby advised to exercise caution and vigilance within the supply chain to avoid the importation, distribution, sale, and use of counterfeit products. All medical products must be obtained from authorized/licensed suppliers. The products’ authenticity and physical condition should be carefully checked,” the statement added.
Healthcare professionals and members of the public were encouraged to report any suspected cases of fake or substandard medicines to the nearest NAFDAC office or through official communication channels.
The agency also called for reporting of any adverse reactions linked to medicines or medical devices through its official platforms.
“Similarly, healthcare professionals and patients are also encouraged 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,” the statement added.
For complaints, the public can also reach out through the agency’s Reforms Unit.
NAFDAC added that the alert will also be shared on the World Health Organization’s Global Surveillance and Monitoring System (GSMS) to strengthen global monitoring efforts.
“Furthermore, note that this notice will be uploaded to the WHO Global Surveillance and Monitoring System (GSMS),” the statement stated.