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NAFDAC Alerts Public To Fake Antimalarial, Aflotin

Published

5 months ago

April 10, 2025

Editor

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control has notified the public that a batch of counterfeit Artemether/Lumefantrine tablets is currently circulating under the brand name Aflotin 20/120 in Nigeria.

The counterfeit product was discovered and reported to the agency by the genuine manufacturer, Ajanta Pharma Limited, Mumbai, India.

NAFDAC, in a statement on its website, disclosed, “According to Ajanta Pharma, the following observations were made on the counterfeit product.

“The batch number PA2128L was manufactured by Ajanta Pharma in December 2018, with an expiry date of November 2020. This batch was created for Combisunate 20/120 (Artemether 20mg/Lumefantrine 120mg tablets), with a pack size of 30 x 24 tablets, which is now being counterfeited and sold as Aflotin 20/120mg with a pack size of 1 x 18 tablets.”

The agency further noted that the overprinted matter and text on the carton of the counterfeit Aflotin 20/120mg artwork did not match Ajanta’s overprinting style and approved artwork.

“Ajanta Pharma has confirmed that the Aflotin 20/120mg with batch number PA2128L available in the Nigerian market is counterfeit, as determined by the investigation carried out and observations made on the product.

“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,” the statement further read.

NAFDAC emphasised that counterfeit or falsified medicines endangered people’s health because they did not comply with regulatory standards, which means the safety, quality, and efficacy of these products were not ensured.

Consequently, the use of counterfeit medicines often fails to treat diseases or conditions effectively, leading to serious health consequences, including death.

The drug control agency listed the details of the counterfeit product as:
“Product Name: AFLOTIN 20/120mg (Artemether 20mg/Lumefantrine 120mg); Batch No: PA2128L; Mfg. Date: 04/2023; Exp. Date: 03/2026; Stated Manufacturer: Ajanta Pharma Limited, Mumbai, India.
“Stated Manufacturer Address: B-4/5/6, MIDC Industrial Area, Paithan, 431 148. Read/Corp. Off/Bureau, Ajanta House, Charkop, Kandivli (W), Mumbai 400 067.”

It added, “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.

“Distributors, retailers, healthcare professionals, and caregivers are hereby advised to exercise caution and vigilance within the supply chain to avoid the distribution, sale, and use of counterfeit products. All medical products must be obtained from authorised/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 to the nearest NAFDAC office, NAFDAC on 0800-162-3322 or via email: sf.alert@nafdac.gov.ng.”

NAFDAC urged healthcare professionals and patients to report adverse events or side effects related to the use of medicinal products or devices to the nearest NAFDAC office or through the E-reporting platforms available on the NAFDAC website.

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NiMet Predicts Three-day Rain, Thunderstorms From Monday

Published

6 hours ago

September 21, 2025

Editor

News

JUST IN: Ooni Visits Olubadan-designate Ladoja In Ibadan

Published

12 hours ago

September 21, 2025

Editor

The Ooni of Ife, Oba Enitan Ogunwusi, on Sunday, paid a visit to the Olubadan designate, Rashidi Ladoja, at his Bodija private residence in Ibadan, Oyo State.

The PUNCH reports that Oba Ladoja will be installed as the 44th Olubadan on Friday, September 26, 2025, following the demise of the 43rd Olubadan, Oba Owolabi Olakulehin, who joined his ancestors on Monday, July 7, 2025, at the age of 90 years.

The two paramount rulers are currently exchanging pleasantries.

Details later…

News

JUST IN: FG Revokes 1,263 Mineral Licenses Over Unpaid Fees

Published

12 hours ago

September 21, 2025

Editor

The Federal Government through the Ministry of Solid Minerals Development has announced a fresh revocation of not less than 1,263 mineral licenses.

These licenses, which will now be deleted from the Electronic Mining Cadastral System portal of the Nigerian Mining Cadastral Office, include 584 exploration licenses, 65 mining leases, 144 quarry licenses, and 470 small-scale mining leases.

The minister of Solid Minerals Development, Dele Alake, gave the revocation announcement in a statement issued by his special assistant on Media, Segun Tomori, on Sunday in Abuja.

The minister explained that the directive was issued due to the companies’ failure to comply with the requirement of paying their annual service fees.

The latest revocation brings the total mineral titles revoked under the current administration to 3, 794 including,619 mineral titles revoked for defaulting in paying annual service fees and 912 for dormancy last year.

By opening up the areas formerly covered by these licenses, the revocation is expected to spur fresh applications by investors looking for fresh opportunities.

The statement read, “Not less than 1,263 mineral licenses will be deleted from the portal of the Electronic Mining Cadastral system of the Nigerian Mining Cadastral Office, MCO, following their revocation by the Federal Government.

“These include 584 exploration licenses, 65 mining leases, 144 quarry licenses, and 470 small-scale mining leases.”

Approving the revocation following the recommendation of the MCO, the Minister said applying the law to keep speculators and unserious investors away from the mining sector would make way for diligent investors and grow the sector.

“The era of obtaining licences and keeping them in drawers for the highest bidder, while financially capable and industrious businessmen are complaining of access to good sites, is over.

“The annual service fee is the minimum evidence that you are interested in mining. You don’t have to wait for us to revoke the license because the law allows you to return the license if you change your mind,” the minister said.

He warned that the revocation does not mean the Federal Government has pardoned the annual service debt owed by licensees, adding that the list will be forwarded to the Economic & Financial Crimes Commission to ensure that debtors pay or face the wrath of the law.

“This is to encourage due diligence and emphasise the consequences of inundating the license application processes with speculative activities.”

In the recommendation to the minister, the Director-General of the MCO, Simon Nkom, disclosed that there were 1,957 initial defaulters when the MCO published the intention to revoke licences in the Federal Government Gazette on June 19, 2025.

He informed the minister that the gazette was distributed to MCO offices nationwide to sensitise licencees and encourage them to comply within 30 days in compliance with the Minerals and Mining Act 2007 and relevant regulations.

He observed that the delay in the final recommendation was due to complaints of several licensees who claimed to have paid to the Federal Government through Remita and had to be reconciled.

Earlier this month, the DG MCO had hinted that more mining licences would be revoked as part of ongoing efforts to sanitise the solid minerals sector and protect investors from fraudsters.

According to Nkom, the clean-up exercise, which covers expired, speculative, and inactive titles, is necessary to make room for genuine investors and ensure compliance with the law.

This is part of ongoing efforts at sanitising the sector since the inception of the Tinubu administration, and the salutary effects of the reforms are massive and manifest despite the attempts to push back by defaulters and their agents.