Abuja, Nigeria – April 16, 2025 — The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has issued a public alert regarding the circulation of a counterfeit anti-malaria drug in Nigeria.
In a statement released Tuesday via its official X (formerly Twitter) handle, the agency warned that a falsified version of Artemether/Lumefantrine tablets—branded as Aflotin 20/120—is being sold across the country.
NAFDAC disclosed that the counterfeit product was brought to its attention by Ajanta Pharma Limited, the legitimate manufacturer based in Mumbai, India. The company had identified irregularities in a batch labeled PA2128L, originally produced in December 2018 and with an expiry date of November 2020.
The original batch was manufactured as Combisunate 20/120 (Artemether 20mg / Lumefantrine 120mg tablets), packaged in 30 boxes of 24 tablets each. However, counterfeiters have repackaged it under the name Aflotin 20/120, with a different packaging configuration of 1 x 18 tablets.
Ajanta Pharma noted discrepancies in the overprint design of the packaging, which did not align with the company’s standard printing style. Following an investigation, the company confirmed that the Aflotin 20/120mg bearing the batch number PA2128L currently being sold in Nigeria is a fake.
“The genuine Aflotin 20/120 tablet is a combination of Artemether and Lumefantrine used for the treatment of uncomplicated malaria caused by Plasmodium falciparum,” NAFDAC stated.
The agency warned that counterfeit medicines pose severe health risks as they do not meet regulatory standards for safety, quality, or efficacy. It stressed that the use of such products can result in treatment failure and, in extreme cases, death.
“All NAFDAC zonal directors and state coordinators have been directed to carry out active surveillance and remove any counterfeit products from circulation,” the agency announced.
Distributors, healthcare providers, and the general public are advised to remain vigilant and source all medical products exclusively from authorized and licensed suppliers.
NAFDAC urged anyone who encounters suspected counterfeit medicines to report them immediately to the nearest NAFDAC office or through its official reporting channels.
