The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has warned Nigerians over the circulation of a suspected substandard and falsified antibiotic, BETACLOX (Ampicillin 250mg and Cloxacillin 250mg).
According to a statement on the agency’s X account, the product contains fraudulent registration details and originates from an unverified source, posing a serious threat to public health.
The alert followed a report from a retail outlet in Zaria, Kaduna State, which identified the suspicious product after purchasing it from a distributor in Kano.
Investigations revealed that the NAFDAC Registration Number (A4-4724) displayed on the fake BETACLOX package actually belongs to Mebendazole 500mg, manufactured by Chi Ltd., indicating a clear case of number misappropriation.
The fake product, allegedly imported by Freeview Pharmaceutical Ltd., lists its address as No. 128 MCC Road, Calabar, Cross River State.
However, verification by NAFDAC confirmed that the genuine Freeview Pharmaceutical Ltd. is registered at No. 101 MCC Road, Calabar, further exposing inconsistencies suggesting unauthorised use of the company’s identity.
The statement read: “NAFDAC is alerting the public to a suspected substandard and falsified (SF) pharmaceutical product identified within the drug supply chain. The product in question, BETACLOX (a combination of ampicillin and cloxacillin), contains fraudulent registration details and comes from an unverified source, posing significant risks to public health.
“The SF product was procured from Gambori Market in Maiduguri metropolis, Borno State, by a distributor in Kano who subsequently sold it to a retail outlet in Zaria, Kaduna State. The retail outlet in Zaria reported the product as suspected SF, initiating this investigation.
“Preliminary investigation revealed that the NAFDAC Registration Number (NRN) A4-4724 displayed on the SF product belongs to an entirely different product: Mebendazole 500mg, manufactured by Chi Ltd. This is a clear case of misappropriation of a registration number.
“While the SF product packaging displays the address as “No. 128 MCC Road, Calabar,” verification against the PCN (Pharmacists Council of Nigeria) list of registered premises confirms that Freeview Pharmaceutical Ltd. is located at “No. 101 MCC Road, Calabar, Cross River State.
“This discrepancy raises additional concerns about the product’s authenticity and the potential unauthorised use of the company’s name.
“BETACLOX is a combination of ampicillin and cloxacillin. Ampicillin + Cloxacillin capsules are a fixed-dose combination drug used to treat bacterial infections of the respiratory tract, ear, nose and throat, urinary tract, skin and soft tissue, and gastrointestinal system.
“Product Details: Product Name: BETACLOX (Ampicillin 250mg and Cloxacillin 250mg), Alleged Importer: Freeview Pharmaceutical Ltd, Address: No. 128 MCC Road, Calabar, Cross River State, Manufacturer: Saeny Laboratory Pvt, Ltd, Elappunkal Junction, Kozhuvanal, Kerala, 864 423 India
•Batch No.: 230701
•Man. Date: 07/2023
•Exp. Date: 07/2026
•NAFDAC REG. NO: A4 4724″