Check, handle and trace the origin of counterfeit medicine NEXIUM® 40mg

The Department of Health requests units under the health sector; health departments of districts and cities; drug production, trading, wholesale and retail establishments in Lam Dong province to implement the direction of the Drug Administration Department on inspection, handling and tracing the origin of fake NEXIUM® 40mg drugs.

On May 22, 2025, the Drug Administration of Vietnam received an official dispatch with an Analysis Certificate from the Hanoi Center for Drug, Cosmetic and Food Testing, reporting that the product sample had the following information on the label: NEXIUM® 40mg Enterik Kapli Pellet Tablet (Esomeprazole), batch number: 23H420, expiry date: 09/2027. The above drug sample did not have information about the GĐKLH number and/or GPNK number, manufacturing facility, and importing facility on the label.

The drug sample was taken at Duc Anh Pharmacy under Duc Anh Pharmaceutical and Medical Equipment Company Limited (No. 08 Huynh Thuc Khang Street, Lang Thuong Ward, Dong Da District, Hanoi). The drug sample did not meet the quality requirements for the quantitative index of Esomeprazole according to the reference document, Nexium Tablets Basic Standard, Registration Number: VN-19782-16 of the manufacturer Astra Zeneca, with the result of 6.91mg/tablet (17.27% of the content stated on the label).

Therefore, the Department of Health requests that medical examination and treatment facilities in the province, wholesale and retail drug businesses do not buy, sell or use the above-mentioned fake NEXIUM® 40mg Enterik Kapli Pellet Tablet (Esomeprazole); only buy and sell drugs at legal drug businesses; do not buy or sell drugs of unknown origin; promptly report any suspicious signs of production and trading of fake drugs or drugs of unknown origin to health agencies and relevant competent agencies.

Lam Dong Provincial Center for Disease Control coordinates with media and press agencies to increase information and propaganda to drug trading and usage establishments and people to know not to trade or use fake drugs with the above information; only buy and sell drugs at legal pharmaceutical businesses; do not buy and sell drugs of unknown origin; promptly report any suspicious signs of production and trading of fake drugs or drugs of unknown origin to health agencies and relevant authorities.

Lam Dong Provincial Pharmaceutical and Cosmetic Testing Center strengthens the work of sampling, testing and monitoring drug quality in the area.

The Health Departments of districts and cities coordinate with local authorities to strengthen inspection and examination of drug retail establishments in the area, strictly handle violations according to their authority or transfer them to competent authorities for handling according to the provisions of law.

The Health Department Inspectorate coordinates with agencies and units to strengthen inspection and examination of pharmaceutical businesses, wholesale and retail establishments, and drug-using establishments in the area, focusing on checking the origin and source of drugs sold and used by businesses and establishments; strictly handle violations according to their authority or transfer them to competent agencies for handling according to the provisions of law.

Source: https://baolamdong.vn/xa-hoi/202505/kiem-tra-xu-ly-truy-tim-nguon-goc-thuoc-gia-nexium-40mg-c015f46/