Unregistered packs of Simbrinza Eye Drop, a medication used for treating high eye pressure caused by glaucoma, with two key features have been sighted in Nigeria.

On Thursday, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) shared details of the unregistered product first spotted in Port Harcourt, Rivers State.

First, the unregistered product has the batch number: VAF36C. Second, the unsafe batch’s labelling was not written in English.

The food control agency stated that the unapproved circulating drug contained two medications brinzolamide and brimonidine used for treating glaucoma and hypertension which affect the eye.

Certified Simbrinza eye drops are used to manage high pressure in the eye. The drug works against sight loss, blindness and damage to the optic nerves.

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Public Alert No. 040/2024.
Alert on the sale of unregistered Simbrinza Eye Drop 10mg/ml + 2mg/ml (Brinzolamide+Brimonidine) in Nigeria.#NafdacALERTS

Read more >> https://t.co/xgt0LWmwIR

— NAFDAC NIGERIA (@NafdacAgency) October 31, 2024

However, the agency stated that the illegal unregistered Simbrinza distribution posed a risk to consumers’ safety.

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“NAFDAC wishes to inform the public about the sighting of unregistered Simbrinza Eye Drops with batch number VAF36C in Port Harcourt, Nigeria,” part of the statement reads.

“The Marketing Authorization Holder (MAH) of the registered brand (Norvartis) reportedly sighted the unregistered brand of Simbrinza Eye Drops in Port Harcourt, Rivers State. The noticeable difference is the non-English inscription on the packs.

“Simbrinza Eye Drops contain two medications (brinzolamide and brimonidine) used to treat high eye pressure due to glaucoma (open-angle glaucoma-type) or a certain other eye disease (ocular hypertension). Lowering high pressure in the eye reduces the risk of vision loss, nerve damage, or blindness.”

In 2023, Cyril Usifoh, President of the Pharmaceutical Society of Nigeria (PSN) said over two million unregistered pharmaceutical outlets were operating in the country, giving a fertile ground for unregistered drugs to thrive.

Unregistered drugs could also be fake or harmful products patients ought to avoid.