The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has warned Nigerians over a falsified Rosprazole (Rabeprazole Injection) 20mg imported into Nigeria by Rostrec Pharmacy and Stores.
The pharmaceutical store, located at No. 98 Oron Road, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria, imported the counterfeit injection using NAFDAC Reg. No. C4-0150, a registration number belonging to another product, the health regulatory agency said on its website.
What Is Original Rabeprazole Injection Used For?
According to NAFDAC, “genuine Rabeprazole Injection (20mg) is a proton pump inhibitor (PPI) used in hospital settings to manage various acid-related gastrointestinal conditions, especially Gastroesophageal Reflux Disease (GERD).”
The injection is administered to patients “to reduce stomach acid and heal esophageal damage, peptic ulcers, including those with bleeding or severe erosions, and Zollinger-Ellison syndrome, a condition causing excessive stomach acid production.”
However, it was discovered that the manufacturer of the counterfeit product produced the prototype using entirely falsified product details.
“Investigation revealed that the stated NAFDAC Registration Number on the falsified product belongs to another product: Amlodipine tablet (Amlodipine Besilate),” NAFDAC disclosed.
Risk of Using Fake Rabeprazole Injection
Fake health products can either kill, damage critical body organs, or cause deformity in the human body. The counterfeit Rosprazole (Rabeprazole Injection) 20mg poses similarly significant health risks, “primarily due to the absence of Rabeprazole (or an inadequate amount), which may be poorly manufactured and contain harmful chemicals or contaminants, which could result in organ failure, allergic reactions, or even death.”
Who Manufactured It?
The manufacturer’s name is unknown. However, NAFDAC disclosed that it was manufactured for Celeste Farmaceutical Inc., 2063, Rabari Vas, Khoraj, Gujarat, India, with Batch No: PLED23108.
Manufactured in December 2023, it carries NRN NO: C4-0150, which belongs to another product. It has November 2026 as its expiry date and was imported by Rostrec Pharmacy and Stores.
Who Is the Owner of Rostrec Pharmacy, the Importer of Fake Drugs?
Although the importer uses the name “Rostrec Pharmacy and Stores” and claims to be located at No. 98 Oron Road, Uyo, Akwa Ibom State, Nigeria, a search by InfomediaNG on the database of the Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC)—an agency saddled with the registration and incorporation of all businesses—shows that Rostrec Pharmacy and Stores is a nonexistent company.
There is a possibility that the fake product was produced in Nigeria, as there are similar cases of fake products that use non-existent addresses or foreign manufacturing addresses to deceive the general public.
While NAFDAC disclosed that it had alerted its zonal directors and state coordinators to conduct surveillance and retrieve any falsified products found within their zones, it also admonished the general public—including importers, distributors, retailers, healthcare professionals, and consumers—“to exercise caution and vigilance within the supply chain to avoid the importation, distribution, sale, and use of falsified Rosprazole (Rabeprazole Injection) 20mg.”
It charged the general public to report counterfeit products or those that show signs of negative reactions in the body to the nearest NAFDAC office or via email on the official website of the agency.