Nigeria’s drug regulator has sounded the alarm over a dangerous twist in cancer treatment, flagging the presence of a fake breast cancer medication already in circulation and reaching patients.
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) disclosed this on Tuesday, the 17th of March, 2026, that the counterfeit version of Phesgo® 600mg surfaced after complaints were lodged by Roche through the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH-NSIA), where suspicious samples were presented for use.
At the centre of the discovery are two questionable batches, B2346B16 and C3809C5, reportedly brought in by patients seeking treatment.
Red flags emerged quickly.
One of the batches, C3809C5, contained about 20mL in its vial, double the expected 10mL, raising immediate doubts about its authenticity.
Phesgo 600mg is a targeted breast cancer drug designed to destroy cancer cells and slow their spread, making any compromise in its quality a direct threat to patients’ survival.
Roche, the original manufacturer, said its probe relied only on images of the suspected products, as no physical samples were submitted. Even with that limitation, the company identified clear inconsistencies when compared with genuine stock.
These included a non-existent batch number, incorrect text details, mismatched variable data, and a Global Trade Item Number barcode that does not correspond with any authentic product.
Packaging flaws also stood out, including the absence of a tamper-evident label and visible differences from the original design.
“Only pictures of the complaint samples were sent to Roche by the complainants for investigation. Although a complete investigation was not possible, the pictures provided were scrutinised by Roche and compared to genuine retained samples. The investigation identified the following significant differences between the complaint sample pictures and the genuine materials, which confirmed the falsified status of the suspected counterfeit batches.” NAFDAC said.
Further checks linked batch B2346B16 to at least four confirmed counterfeit incidents across Turkey, Nigeria, and the Philippines, all carrying identical fake details.
NAFDAC warned that counterfeit medicines like this pose a serious danger since they fail to meet safety and quality standards required for proper treatment.
”The illegal marketing and distribution of counterfeit medicines risks people’s health, as they do not guarantee the safety, quality, and efficacy of the products due to non-compliance with regulatory standards,” NAFDAC stated.
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The agency also noted inconsistencies in the listed manufacturing details of the fake products, unlike the genuine version produced by F. Hoffmann-La Roche Limited in Kaiseraugst, Switzerland.
In response, NAFDAC has ordered nationwide surveillance, directing its officials to track and remove the counterfeit drugs from circulation.
Stakeholders across the supply chain have been placed on alert.
Importers, distributors, hospitals, and caregivers are urged to avoid unverified sources and ensure strict checks before administering any medical product.
“All medical products must be obtained from authorized/licensed suppliers. The products’ authenticity and physical condition should be carefully checked”, NAFDAC stressed.
The agency also called on health workers and the public to report any suspected fake drugs through its offices, hotlines, and digital platforms.
Patients and professionals are further encouraged to flag any unusual reactions linked to medicines through NAFDAC’s reporting systems, including its mobile application.