NAFDAC Warns Nigerians About Suspected Counterfeit Forxiga® Medicines Found in Eastern Nigeria

The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has issued a public alert following the discovery of suspected counterfeit medicines designed to imitate Forxiga® (dapagliflozin), a prescription medicine manufactured by AstraZeneca. The suspected counterfeit products, marketed as Forzigar and Foziga, were identified during market surveillance activities in Eastern Nigeria. NAFDAC has launched an investigation and directed nationwide surveillance to remove the falsified products from circulation.

Me & You Pharma Takeaways

• NAFDAC has detected two suspected counterfeit medicines mimicking Forxiga® (dapagliflozin).
• The counterfeit products are marketed as Forzigar and Foziga and imitate AstraZeneca’s branding and logo.
• The products were identified in Eastern Nigeria during market surveillance.
• Genuine Forxiga® is prescribed to treat Type 2 diabetes, heart failure, and chronic kidney disease.
• Counterfeit medicines may contain the wrong ingredients, incorrect doses, harmful contaminants, or no active ingredient at all.
• Patients should buy medicines only from licensed pharmacies and report suspected counterfeit products to NAFDAC.

What Happened?

NAFDAC announced that AstraZeneca notified the agency after market surveillance identified two suspected counterfeit medicines bearing names and packaging that closely resemble Forxiga®, one of the company’s registered medicines.

The counterfeit products are labelled Forzigar and Foziga, both of which imitate the AstraZeneca brand identity and logo. According to the agency, the products were found in Eastern Nigeria.

The suspected counterfeit products include:

• Forzigar
  • Batch Number: ATE-262
  • Manufacturing Date: March 2025
  • Expiry Date: February 2028
  • Labelled Manufacturer: Alliaance Biotech
• Foziga
  • Batch Number: GIB405-
  • Manufacturing Date: June 2024
  • Expiry Date: May 2027
  • Labelled Manufacturer: Medico Remedies Ltd

NAFDAC is investigating the source and distribution of the suspected counterfeit medicines while carrying out surveillance across the country to identify and remove any falsified products from the market.

Why It Matters To Your Health

Forxiga® contains dapagliflozin, a prescription medicine used to help control blood sugar in people with Type 2 diabetes, reduce the risk of hospitalization and cardiovascular death in certain patients with heart failure, and slow the progression of chronic kidney disease.

Patients taking Forxiga® often rely on the medicine to manage long-term conditions that require consistent treatment. If they unknowingly purchase a counterfeit product, they may not receive the correct medication, putting their health at serious risk.

Counterfeit medicines may contain little or none of the intended active ingredient, the wrong medicine altogether, or harmful contaminants. This can result in poor blood sugar control, worsening heart failure symptoms, faster progression of kidney disease, unexpected side effects, or serious medical emergencies.

The discovery also highlights the growing threat of falsified medicines that imitate trusted pharmaceutical brands, making it difficult for patients to distinguish genuine products from counterfeit ones.

What You Can Do

To protect yourself from counterfeit medicines:

• Buy prescription medicines only from licensed pharmacies and authorized medicine distributors.
• Carefully examine medicine packaging, spelling, logos, batch numbers, and expiry dates before purchase.
• Be cautious of medicines with names that closely resemble well-known brands.
• If you notice unusual packaging or suspect a medicine may be counterfeit, do not use it until you have consulted a pharmacist.
• Continue taking your prescribed medicines unless advised otherwise by your healthcare provider.
• Report suspected counterfeit medicines or unusual side effects to the nearest NAFDAC office or through its official reporting channels.

Understanding The Issue

Counterfeit medicines are falsified products deliberately designed to imitate genuine medicines. They often use similar product names, logos, colours, and packaging to deceive consumers and healthcare professionals into believing they are authentic.

In this case, the names Forzigar and Foziga closely resemble Forxiga®, increasing the likelihood of confusion. The products also imitate AstraZeneca’s branding, making them even more difficult to identify without careful inspection.

Forxiga® contains dapagliflozin, a medicine belonging to a class of drugs known as sodium-glucose co-transporter 2 (SGLT2) inhibitors. It works by helping the kidneys remove excess glucose through the urine, lowering blood sugar levels in people with Type 2 diabetes. Research has also shown that dapagliflozin can reduce the risk of hospitalization for heart failure and help slow the progression of chronic kidney disease in eligible patients.

Because many patients take Forxiga® every day as part of their long-term treatment, receiving a counterfeit product could lead to treatment failure without the patient immediately realizing it. Poorly controlled diabetes can increase the risk of nerve damage, kidney disease, vision loss, and cardiovascular complications. Likewise, inadequate treatment for heart failure or chronic kidney disease may result in worsening symptoms and avoidable hospital admissions.

A common misconception is that medicines with similar names or packaging are equivalent. In reality, counterfeit medicines are manufactured outside approved regulatory systems and may not meet any recognized standards for quality, safety, or effectiveness.

The detection of these products demonstrates the importance of NAFDAC’s market surveillance activities and collaboration with pharmaceutical manufacturers. Healthcare professionals and patients also play an important role by remaining vigilant, purchasing medicines from legitimate sources, and reporting suspicious products promptly.

When To Speak With A Healthcare Professional

Speak with your pharmacist or doctor if:

• You are unsure whether your Forxiga® medicine is genuine.
• You notice differences in the packaging, spelling, or appearance of your medicine.
• Your blood sugar levels become difficult to control despite taking your medication.
• Your heart failure or kidney disease symptoms worsen unexpectedly.
• You experience unusual side effects after taking dapagliflozin or a suspected counterfeit medicine.

Seek emergency medical attention immediately if you experience severe dehydration, difficulty breathing, confusion, severe weakness, loss of consciousness, or any other serious symptoms after taking a suspected counterfeit medicine.

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Medical Disclaimer

This content is provided for educational purposes only and is not intended to replace professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult a qualified healthcare professional before starting, stopping, or changing any medication or treatment plan.