*The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control warns consumers and the general public against the existence of counterfeit Artemether/Lumefantrine tablets, circulating under the brand name Aflotin 20/120 in Nigeria

Isola Moses | 绿帽献妻

In safeguarding the health of Nigerians, the National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has alerted the general public to the presence of counterfeit Artemether/Lumefantrine tablets circulating under the brand name Aflotin 20/120 in the West African country.

绿帽献妻 reports NAFDAC, which disclosed this development Tuesday, April 15, 2025, via its verified X handle, said that the genuine manufacturer, Ajanta Pharma Limited from Mumbai, India, uncovered and reported the counterfeit product to the Nigerian regulator.

Ajanta Pharma: Counterfeited Aflotin in circulation expired December 2018

According to NAFDAC, Ajanta Pharma observed that it manufactured the counterfeited product with Batch Number PA2128L December 2018, with an expiry date of November 2020.

The health sector regulatory agency also explained that the said batch was created for Combisunate 20/120 (Artemether 20mg/Lumefantrine 120mg Tablets), with a pack size of 30 x 24 tablets.

The pharmaceutical company, however, said that the drug had been counterfeited, and was being sold as Aflotin 20/120mg with a pack size of 1 x 18 tablets.

NAFDAC as well added that the overprinted matter did not match Ajanta鈥檚 overprinting style.

The agency said Ajanta Pharma had confirmed that the Aflotin 20/120mg with Batch No: PA2128L currently available in the Nigerian market was a counterfeit, following the investigation and observations made on the affected product.

The health sector regulator further stated: 鈥淭he genuine Aflotin 20/120 tablet is a combination of Artemether/Lumefantrine (20mg/120mg) and is primarily used for the treatment of uncomplicated malaria caused by the Plasmodium falciparum parasite.鈥�

Dangers of consuming counterfeit/adulterated medicines, by NAFDAC

Highlighting the dangers of consuming fake and adulterated drugs, NAFDAC explained that counterfeit medicines endanger people鈥檚 health because they do not comply with regulatory standards in terms of the safety, quality, and the efficacy of such products is not ensured.

The agency asserted: 鈥淭he use of counterfeit medicines often fails to treat diseases or conditions effectively, leading to serious health consequences, including death.鈥�

The regulator noted that all NAFDAC Zonal Directors and State Coordinators have been informed and directed to conduct surveillance, and remove any counterfeit products found within their zones and states across the West African country.

NAFDAC urged drug distributors, retailers, healthcare professionals, and caregivers to exercise caution and vigilance within the pharmaceutical supply chain to avoid the distribution, sale, and use of counterfeit products by Nigerian consumers.

The agency equally advised that all medical products must be obtained from authorised/licensed suppliers.

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