The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has alerted Nigerians to the circulation of suspected counterfeit versions of Forxiga (dapagliflozin), warning that the fake medicines could pose serious risks to patients.
The agency issued the warning in a statement on its official X handle on Thursday after receiving an alert from pharmaceutical company AstraZeneca, which reportedly detected products carrying names and packaging designed to closely imitate the genuine Forxiga brand.
NAFDAC explained that genuine Forxiga, which contains dapagliflozin, is used in the management of Type 2 diabetes and also has approved applications in reducing the risk of cardiovascular complications and slowing the progression of chronic kidney disease.
The agency cautioned that counterfeit medicines may contain the wrong ingredients or dosage, harmful substances, or no active pharmaceutical ingredient at all, potentially resulting in treatment failure, worsening health conditions and other serious complications.
According to NAFDAC, the suspected fake products have been identified in Nigeria’s eastern region.
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One of the products, identified as Forzigar, carries batch number ATE-262, a manufacturing date of March 2025 and an expiry date of February 2028. The product reportedly lists Alliaance Biotech as its manufacturer.
Another suspected counterfeit, Foziga, bears batch number GIB405-, with a manufacturing date of June 2024 and an expiry date of May 2027. It identifies Medico Remedies Ltd as its manufacturer.
NAFDAC said it has commenced investigations to determine the source of the suspected counterfeit medicines and trace their distribution networks.
The agency added that its zonal directors and state coordinators have been instructed to intensify surveillance and ensure that the affected products are removed from circulation.
NAFDAC urged Nigerians and healthcare professionals to obtain medicines only from licensed pharmacies and authorised distributors, while advising consumers to carefully examine drug packaging, labels and other product details before use.
The agency also encouraged members of the public to promptly report suspected counterfeit or substandard medicines to the nearest NAFDAC office to help prevent their spread and protect patients from potentially dangerous products.
