NAFDAC RAISES ALARM OVER FAKE INJECTION IN CIRCULATION

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The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has alerted Nigerians, especially healthcare providers, on the sale of one batch of fake Meronem 1g Injection in Nigeria.

NAFDAC Director-General, Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye gave this warning on Tuesday in Abuja.

She said the Marketing Authorization Holder (MAH), Pfizer, reported the occurrence via a patient notification mechanism and included a suspicious park of Meronem 1g injectable transaction.

She referenced Pfizer, claiming that a more thorough examination at the package revealed that the contents of the vial did not dissolve when reconstituted for use.

Furthermore, the crimp code was stated to not correspond with the code given on the 2A21F11 production documentation batch, which is the semi-finished batch used for 4A21I17.

According to the DG, the manufacturing procedure did not adhere to Pfizer’s requirements.

“The vial label compares favourably to the purported artwork version.

“Meronem (Meropenem trihydrate injection) is an antibiotic used to treat skin and abdominal (stomach area) infections caused by bacteria and meningitis (infection of the membranes that surround the brain and spinal cord) in adults and children 3 months of age and older.

“The administration of the counterfeit product will pose a high risk to patients as the quality and safety are not guaranteed,” Adeyeye said.

The head of NAFDAC stated that patients and healthcare professionals are encouraged to buy all medical goods from approved and licensed vendors.

According to her, it is important to thoroughly inspect the physical state and validity of things before making a purchase or using them.