Ministry of Health traces the origin of fake drug NEXIUM 40mg containing only 17.2% of the drug content

On May 23, the Drug Administration of Vietnam (Ministry of Health) sent a document to health departments regarding the inspection, handling, and tracing of the origin of counterfeit drug NEXIUM 40mg containing only 17.2% of the content compared to the label.

Counterfeit drug samples were announced to be recalled by the Drug Administration in February 2023 - Photo: Screenshot

Specifically, the Drug Administration of Vietnam said it had received an official dispatch with an analysis report from the Hanoi Center for Drug, Cosmetic and Food Testing, reporting that the product sample had information on the label as NEXIUM 40mg Enterik Kapli Pellet Tablet (Esomeprazole), batch number: 23H420, expiry date: 9-2027, with no information on the circulation registration number and/or import license, manufacturing facility, and importing facility on the label.

Drug samples were taken at Duc Anh Pharmacy, under Duc Anh Pharmaceutical and Medical Equipment Company Limited, No. 8 Huynh Thuc Khang extended (Dong Da, Hanoi).

The drug sample did not meet the quality requirements for the quantitative index of Esomeprazole according to the reference document, Nexium Tablet Base Standard, registration number: VN-19782-16 of the manufacturer AstraZeneca, with the result of 6.91mg/tablet (17.27% of the content stated on the label).

The Drug Administration of Vietnam requests the Hanoi Department of Health to urgently report to the Steering Committee 389 and coordinate with the police, market management agencies, the local Steering Committee 389 and relevant authorities to conduct an inspection of the above-mentioned Duc Anh Pharmacy, to trace the origin of the product batch with the information on the label being NEXIUM 40mg Enterik Kapli Pellet Tablet (Esomeprazole), on the label there is no information about the registration number and/or import license, manufacturing facility, and importing facility.

Hanoi Department of Health strictly handles violating facilities according to regulations, reports inspection, examination and handling results to the Department of Drug Administration before May 27.

NEXIUM 40mg is a proton pump inhibitor that reduces the amount of acid produced in the stomach, used to treat the symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and other conditions involving excessive stomach acid.

The Drug Administration also requested health departments to communicate and inform drug trading and usage establishments and people not to buy, sell or use the above NEXIUM 40mg Enterik Kapli Pellet Tablet (Esomeprazole) product; promptly report any suspicious signs of production and trading of counterfeit drugs or drugs of unknown origin to health agencies and relevant agencies.

Previously, in February 2023, the Drug Administration of Vietnam also issued an official dispatch to health departments informing them of the discovery of a number of suspected counterfeit drug batches, identifying the product Nexium 40mg, Enterik Kapli Pellet Tablet, AstraZeneca, batch number: 21H979, box of 4 blisters, each blister of 7 tablets, as a drug not allowed to be circulated, suspected of being counterfeit.

The Drug Administration has also requested health departments to coordinate with competent authorities to inspect, verify, and trace the origin of the above-mentioned products suspected of being illegally imported/circulated drugs.

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Source: https://tuoitre.vn/bo-y-te-truy-tim-nguon-goc-thuoc-gia-nexium-40mg-chi-chua-17-2-ham-luong-20250523141429582.htm