A global fake drug ring has infiltrated LUTH, putting cancer patients at immediate risk as counterfeit medicines slip past Nigeria’s health safeguards. KEHINDE ADEGOKE reports.
In a disturbing development that exposes the reach of global counterfeit medicine networks into Nigeria’s healthcare system, patients at the Lagos University Teaching Hospital (LUTH) have already brought suspected fake batches of the critical breast cancer drug Phesgo 600mg for administration.
This is not a hypothetical or emerging threat — it is a present, documented reality at Nigeria’s premier teaching hospital.
NAFDAC Raises the Alarm
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) issued Public Alert No. 014/2026 on confirmed counterfeits of Phesgo 600mg with batch numbers B2346B16 and C3809C5.
The complaints originated directly from LUTH-NSIA, where patients presented the suspected counterfeit products for treatment. Roche (the manufacturer) received reports from the hospital detailing the fake vials.
Key red flags identified include:
Batch B2346B16: Linked to at least four confirmed counterfeit cases across Nigeria, Turkey, and the Philippines — pointing to a synchronised international distribution network using the same fake batch number and misleading information.
Batch C3809C5: The vial volume was approximately 20mL instead of the genuine 10mL, a clear physical anomaly.
Only photographs of the samples were provided for investigation, as the physical products were returned to Roche.
What is Phesgo?
Phesgo (pertuzumab/trastuzumab) is an injectable combination therapy used to treat HER2-positive breast cancer. It works by targeting cancer cells and slowing or stopping their growth. Counterfeit versions present serious risks: they may contain no active ingredients, incorrect dosages, harmful contaminants, or ineffective substitutes — directly endangering the lives of patients already battling cancer.
A United International Threat
The linkage of the same fake batch across multiple continents suggests a sophisticated operation targeting high-value oncology drugs. Nigeria’s inclusion in this network reveals vulnerabilities in the medical supply chain, from importation to hospital-level distribution.
NAFDAC has repeatedly warned that counterfeit medicines fail to meet standards of safety, quality, and efficacy, putting public health at grave risk.
Calls for Urgent Action
This incident at LUTH reinforces the urgent need for:
Strengthened surveillance at teaching hospitals and oncology centres.
Strengthened collaboration between NAFDAC, hospitals, manufacturers, and law enforcement.
Public and healthcare workers’ awareness of verifying drug sources and reporting suspicions.
Crackdown on the international networks fueling this trade.
This is happening now at one of Nigeria’s top hospitals. Cancer patients and their families deserve assurance that the drugs meant to save their lives are genuine.
NAFDAC and relevant authorities must treat this with the importance it demands — because where counterfeit cancer drugs reach premier hospitals, the battle against falsified medicines has already entered a dangerous new phase.
Keep vigilant. Verify your medicines. Report suspicions immediately to NAFDAC.
