The Drug Administration of Vietnam (DAV), under the Ministry of Health, has issued an urgent warning about five pharmaceutical products suspected of being counterfeit, urging local health departments to immediately investigate and inform the public not to buy, sell, or use these drugs.

The DAV reported it has recently received several official notices from pharmaceutical companies regarding potentially fake medications.

Among the reports, Novartis Vietnam highlighted three eye-drop products suspected of being counterfeit: Tobrex 5ml (batch numbers VEE98C and VEE90A), Maxitrol 5ml (batch number VFD09A), and TobraDex 5ml (batch number VHN07A). These products are widely used in Vietnam.

The DAV has requested provincial and municipal health departments to notify all pharmacies, clinics, and the public to refrain from distributing or using the aforementioned products. Novartis Vietnam is required to provide complete, accurate information and cooperate with relevant authorities to trace the origin of these suspect batches upon request.

The second report came from Sandoz Vietnam Co., Ltd., which received a complaint in July from a pharmacy at the Family Medical Device Clinic (G2-41 Pham Hung Street, Rach Gia, An Giang Province). The product in question is Aclasta (Lot: KHBY7, MFD: 08/2024, EXP: 07/2027), a medication used to treat osteoporosis and Paget's disease.

Sandoz confirmed that this batch was not manufactured by Lek Pharmaceuticals d.d., Slovenia - their designated production facility - and was never imported by the company. Additionally, the suspected counterfeit batch still bears an outdated Novartis logo, which has not been in use since May 2024.

The DAV has ordered health departments to alert businesses and the public not to buy or use any Aclasta products with a manufacturing date later than May 2024 that still bear the old Novartis logo.

The third case was reported by DKSH Pharma Vietnam Co., Ltd., an importer of various drugs produced by Cheplapharm Arzneimottel GmbH. Recently, Ho Chi Minh City police confiscated Lexomil 6mg (Batch: F3193F01, Expiry: 12/2027), a sedative found to be counterfeit.

This drug was originally intended for distribution in France and has not been legally imported or distributed in Vietnam. Notably, Lexomil 6mg has not been granted any registration for circulation in Vietnam.

The DAV has instructed the Ho Chi Minh City Department of Health to urgently coordinate with law enforcement agencies to trace and verify the source of the suspected counterfeit Lexomil 6mg. Pharmacies and healthcare providers are advised to immediately cease the sale and use of this product.

Vo Thu