The National Agency for Food and Drugs Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has alerted the public to the illegal distribution and marketing of substandard and falsified anti-malaria drug – Colamar (Artemether/Lumefantrine 20/120mg).
The product is a pass-off of Lonart Suspension and bears 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.
Artemether/Lumefantrine 20/120mg is an antimalarial medication used to treat acute uncomplicated malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum.
The agency in a public alert on its website warned that the 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.
The counterfeit product, named Colamar 20/120 Powder for Oral Suspension, is marked with a batch number ALD2424, a manufacturing date of February 2024, and an expiry date of January 2027. The medication with NRN, B4-4065, was manufactured by Archy Pharm. Nig Ltd., located at 30 Win Funke Street, Lagos-Abeokuta Expressway, Ojokoro, Lagos, Nigeria.
NAFDAC says all its zonal directors and state coordinators have been directed to carry out surveillance and mop up the substandard and falsified products within the zones and states.
Importers, distributors, retailers, healthcare professionals and caregivers are also advised to exercise caution and vigilance within the supply chain to avoid the importation, distribution, sale and use of substandard and falsified products.
“All medical products must be obtained from authorised/licensed suppliers. The products’ authenticity and physical condition should be carefully checked”, the agency warned.
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