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The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has issued a public alert, warning of falsified oxycontin 80mg (oxycodone hydrochloride) tablets detected in an unregulated market in Switzerland.
In the alert issued on Thursday, NAFDAC said the falsified product imitates the genuine oxycontin 80mg authorised for sale in Poland, which is a semi-synthetic opioid used to treat moderate to severe pain.
The agency said the fake medicine with batch number 262174 was reported to the World Health Organisation (WHO) by the genuine manufacturer, Mundipharma in February 2025.
NAFDAC said laboratory tests revealed that the tablets do not contain oxycodone but instead contain a synthetic opioid likely to be a nitazene compound.
The agency warned that nitazene derivatives are potent synthetic opioids that can be hundreds of times stronger than oxycodone, posing a high overdose risk.
“These substances can be hundreds of times stronger than oxycodone, posing a high overdose risk. Limited information is available on their risks, toxicity, side effects, and long-term consequences,” the alert reads.
“The identified product in this alert is confirmed as falsified on the basis that it deliberately/fraudulently misrepresented its identity, composition, or source. The falsified product imitates Oxycontin 80mg manufactured and marketed by Mundipharma in the Polish market. Mundipharma has confirmed that the product was falsified and was not produced by their company.”
The agency identified visible discrepancies on the falsified product, including incorrect placement of batch and expiry dates.
NAFDAC instructed its zonal directors and state coordinators to conduct surveillance and retrieve any falsified products found within their zones and states in Nigeria.
It advised importers, distributors, retailers, healthcare professionals, and consumers to exercise caution and vigilance within the supply chain to avoid importing, distributing, selling, or using falsified oxycontin tablets.
The agency also encouraged healthcare professionals and patients to report any suspicions or adverse events related to the use of medicinal products or devices.
