PositiveNaija Public Alert 9: The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) is alerting the public about the sale and distribution of falsified PETSOW STARNICILLIN 500mg purportedly manufactured by Petsow Laboratories Limited. This falsified product was reportedly circulated in Cameroon and Central African Republic.
The original and registered products are STARNICILLIN (500mg) with NAFDAC Reg. No. 04-7790 and STARNICILLIN (250mg) with NAFDAC Reg. No. 04-4697. Each batch of the original STARNICILLIN has a unique code, as seen under the column for the original.
Starnicillin capsules contain (250 mg or 500 mg) ampicillin for the treatment of various susceptible infections, including bronchitis, urinary tract infections, otitis media, sinusitis, uncomplicated community-acquired pneumonia, salmonellosis, and other related conditions.
Risk
The illegal marketing of medicines or falsified medicines poses a risk to the health of people, since by not complying with the regulatory provisions, the safety, quality, and efficacy of the products are not guaranteed.
Details of the falsified and original products are as follows:
| Product Details | Counterfeit | Original |
| Name | PETSOWRÂ STARNICILLINR | STARNICILLINR |
| Declared Ingredient | Ampicillin 500mg | Ampicillin 500mg |
| Batch | 023612 | V2403001 |
| Manufactured Date | 01-01-2024 | 03/24 |
| Expiring Date | 01-01-2027 | 02/27 |
All NAFDAC zonal directors and state coordinators have been directed to conduct surveillance and mop up the unregistered products within the zones and states in Nigeria.
Importers, distributors, retailers, healthcare professionals, and consumers are hereby advised to exercise caution and vigilance within the supply chain to avoid the importation, distribution, sale, and use of illegally distributed products. All medical products/ medical devices must be obtained from authorized/licensed suppliers. The products’ authenticity and physical condition should be carefully checked.
Healthcare professionals and consumers are advised to report any suspicion of the sale of substandard and falsified medicines or medical devices to the nearest NAFDAC office, NAFDAC on 0800-162-3322 or via email: sf.alert@nafdac.gov.ng
Similarly, healthcare professionals and patients are also encouraged to report adverse events or side effects related to the use of medicinal products or devices to the nearest NAFDAC office, or through the use of the E-reporting platforms available on the NAFDAC website www.nafdac.gov.ng or via the Med- safety application available for download on android and IOS stores or via e-mail on pharmacovigilance@nafdac.gov.ng
Furthermore, note that this notice will be uploaded to the WHO Global Surveillance and Monitoring System (GSMS).
PositiveNaija Public Alert
The PositiveNaija Public Alert 9 initiative is aimed at keeping Nigerians well-informed particularly in regards to their safety and development. For future developments on this news, kindly follow up through the official communication channels of the reporting/regulatory authority.
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