The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has issued a public alert on the detection of suspected counterfeit medicinal products mimicking Forxiga® (dapagliflozin) in the Nigerian market.
According to the agency, AstraZeneca notified NAFDAC after market surveillance identified products bearing names closely resembling the genuine drug and imitating the AstraZeneca logo. The suspected counterfeit products, named “Forzigar” and “Foziga”, were detected in Eastern Nigeria.
Genuine Forxiga is primarily prescribed to improve blood sugar control in Type 2 diabetes, reduce cardiovascular death and hospitalisations in heart failure, and slow the progression of chronic kidney disease.
NAFDAC warned that counterfeit medicines may contain incorrect ingredients, wrong dosage strength, harmful contaminants, or none of the stated active ingredient. Use of such products can lead to treatment failure, worsening of medical conditions, or other serious health risks.
The agency has directed all zonal directors and state coordinators to intensify surveillance and mop-up operations to remove the counterfeit products from circulation.
Members of the public and healthcare professionals have been advised to exercise caution, purchase medicines only from licensed pharmacies and authorised distributors, and carefully examine product labels and packaging before use.
NAFDAC also urged anyone who suspects the sale of substandard or falsified medicines to report to the nearest NAFDAC office, call 0800-162-3322, or send an email to sf.alert@nafdac.gov.ng.
