NAFDAC Issues Public Alert Over Counterfeit Forxiga (Dapagliflozin) Circulating in Nigeria
核心洞察
Nigeria's NAFDAC (搜索) has warned the public about counterfeit versions of AstraZeneca's diabetes drug Forxiga (dapagliflozin) detected in Eastern Nigeria following market surveillance.
Two falsified products, marketed as Forzigar and Foziga, were identified bearing batch numbers ATE-262 and GIB405- respectively, with incorrect manufacturer listings.
Counterfeit medicines may contain wrong ingredients, incorrect dosages, or harmful contaminants, posing risks of treatment failure and adverse health consequences.
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC (搜索)) has issued a public alert warning Nigerians about the circulation of suspected counterfeit medicinal products imitating Forxiga (dapagliflozin), the widely prescribed diabetes and heart failure (搜索) medication manufactured by AstraZeneca. The alert, designated Public Alert No. 036/2026, was posted on the agency's official X handle on Thursday.
The counterfeit products were detected following market surveillance conducted by AstraZeneca, which subsequently notified NAFDAC (搜索) after identifying products bearing names closely resembling Forxiga and imitating the company's brand identity and logo.
Clinical Significance of Authentic Forxiga
NAFDAC (搜索) emphasized that genuine Forxiga (dapagliflozin) is a film-coated tablet prescribed for multiple indications: improving blood sugar control in patients with Type 2 diabetes (搜索), reducing cardiovascular deaths and hospitalizations in patients with heart failure (搜索), and slowing the progression of chronic kidney disease (搜索). The availability of counterfeit versions threatens these therapeutic benefits and places patients at significant risk.
Details of the Counterfeit Products
Two falsified products have been specifically identified. The first, marketed under the name Forzigar, bears batch number ATE-262, with a manufacturing date of March 2025 and an expiry date of February 2028, and lists Alliaance Biotech as the manufacturer. The second product, Foziga, carries batch number GIB405-, with a manufacturing date of June 2024 and an expiry date of May 2027, and lists Medico Remedies Ltd as the manufacturer. Both products were detected in Eastern Nigeria.
NAFDAC (搜索) underscored the dangers posed by such falsified medicines, stating: "Counterfeit medicines may contain incorrect ingredients, the wrong dosage strength, harmful contaminants, or may not contain the stated active ingredient." The agency further warned that "use of such products may result in treatment failure, worsening of the underlying medical condition, adverse health consequences, or other serious risks to patient safety."
Regulatory Response and Investigation
NAFDAC (搜索) confirmed it has commenced investigations into the source and distribution of the suspected counterfeit medicines. All zonal directors and state coordinators have been directed to conduct surveillance and mop-up activities to identify and remove any counterfeit product from circulation across Nigeria.
The agency urged consumers and healthcare professionals to purchase medicines only from licensed pharmacies and authorized distributors and to carefully examine product labels and packaging before purchase and use. The public has also been advised to report suspected substandard or falsified medicines to the nearest NAFDAC (搜索) office, through its dedicated telephone line, email channels, or online adverse event reporting platforms.