NAFDAC Issues Urgent Public Alert Over Counterfeit Mabthera Cancer Drug Circulating in Northern Nigeria

NAFDAC identifies fake Mabthera 500mg/50ml (batch N2110A09) in Gombe and Kaduna. Warning issued for counterfeit cancer and autoimmune medication.

By: AXL Media

Published: Mar 24, 2026, 5:16 AM EDT

Source: The information in this article was sourced from iSaturday

Identification of Falsified Mabthera 500mg/50ml

NAFDAC has officially warned the Nigerian public against the purchase and use of a counterfeit version of Mabthera (Rituximab) 500mg/50ml. The agency flagged the product after batch number N2110A09 was discovered circulating widely in the northern region, particularly in Gombe and Kaduna. Mabthera is a critical antibody injection used to treat blood cancers, including non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma and chronic lymphocytic leukaemia, as well as autoimmune diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis. The presence of falsified versions of such a sensitive medication presents a life-threatening risk to vulnerable patients.

Investigation Triggered by Price Discrepancies

The alarm was raised by Roche Nigeria, the Marketing Authorization Holder, after healthcare providers reported patients presenting products purchased at unusually low prices. Genuine Mabthera, which is a high-cost specialty medication, was being sold in these instances for between N160,000 and N275,000. Roche’s subsequent investigation confirmed that these products were sophisticated counterfeits. While chemical analysis was limited by the lack of physical samples, photographic evidence of the packaging provided clear proof of the illicit manufacturing.

Key Indicators of the Counterfeit Product

NAFDAC has outlined several physical discrepancies that healthcare providers and patients should use to identify the fake medication: