Fake batches of Herceptin, a breast-cancer treating drug, have been circulating in Nigerian markets since 2023.

In an X post on Thursday, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) said a pharmacist had reported that “two units of suspected counterfeit Roche product, Herceptin 600mg/5ml” were seen on the market.

FIJ saw that the manufacturing date was in March 2023.

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NAFDAC explained that the batch number imprinted on the Herceptin package was invalid, and that the Global Trade Item Number (GTIN) corresponded with a cosmetic product made by Roche, the same drug maker.

“The Kaiseraugst/Switzerland Quality Control organization investigated the complaint sample pictures. The batch number does not exist for Herceptin, but the imprinted GTIN corresponds to the Roche common makeup MAK-21,” NAFDAC stated.

“Therefore, the displayed complaint sample was compared to a corresponding retain sample in the MAK-21 make-up presentation.Several differences were detected, including non-existent batch number and wrong shelf life, different printing quality (e.g. colours, Roche log), and font of variable data.

“The lot tracing was impossible because the lot number imprinted is not a genuine Roche batch number for Herceptin.Chemical Analysis: Chemical analysis was not possible, as the physical complaint sample was not available for return.

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“Nevertheless, the investigation of the provided pictures revealed clear evidence of counterfeit packaging material.”

Herceptin, according to NAFDAC, is a ‘targeted’ cancer drug that can be used for the treatment of HER2-positive breast cancer that is either at its early stage or its advanced stage.

In May, NAFDAC warned Nigerians of the risks involved in using Caro White, a common Nigeria bleaching lotion, explaining that it contained dangerous levels of hydroquinone.