7 fake drugs, including diabetes drugs, discovered at a pharmacy

Some drug samples sold at Duc Anh pharmacy (Dong Da district, Hanoi) were found to be of unknown origin, without valid documents, including diabetes treatment drugs that were of poor quality, containing active ingredients lower than the standard.

Diabetics must regularly take medication - Illustration: Freepik

On May 30, the Drug Administration of Vietnam ( Ministry of Health ) said it had received a report from the Hanoi Center for Drug, Cosmetic and Food Testing about the discovery that the drug DIAMICRON® MR 60mg (Gliklazid) - a diabetes treatment drug - did not meet quality standards.

Specifically, this drug sample (batch number 23F603, expiry date 4-2026) has an active ingredient Gliclazide content of only 42.5mg/tablet, equivalent to 70.83% of the standard stated on the label. According to the regulations in the Vietnamese Pharmacopoeia V, this content does not meet the requirements.

In addition, along with this drug sample, the testing agency also discovered 6 other drugs sold at Duc Anh pharmacy (No. 08 Huynh Thuc Khang, Lang Thuong ward, Dong Da district, Hanoi ) without information about circulation registration and/or import license. The product samples also did not clearly state the place of manufacture or import.

The list of drugs found to be of unknown origin includes:

• DIAMICRON® MR 60mg (Gliklazid) - batch number 23F603, expiry date 4-2026

• Oseltamivir - batch number M1164B01, manufacturing date 03.2021, expiry date 3-2023

• Crestor 20mg (Rosuvastatin) - lot number A23237030, Expiry date 4-2026

• Janumet 50/1000mg (Sitagliptin/Metformin) - batch number 24497505A, Expiry date 7-2026

• Plavix (Clopidogrel) - batch number ELB04027, expiration date 5-2027

• NEXIUM® 40mg (Esomeprazole) - batch number 23H420, expiration date 9-2027

• Crestor 10mg (Rosuvastatin) - batch number A24236004, expiration date 7-2027

The Drug Administration of Vietnam requested the Hanoi Department of Health to urgently coordinate with Steering Committee 389, police, market management and functional units to comprehensively inspect and examine Duc Anh pharmacy.

The Department also directed the authorities to trace the origin of the violating drug batches, strictly handle the acts of trading drugs of unknown origin, not qualified for circulation, and report the results before June 2.

The Drug Administration of Vietnam requests the Department of Health of provinces and cities to widely inform medical facilities and people not to buy, sell, or use the above-mentioned batches of drugs. At the same time, it is recommended to only buy drugs at legal pharmaceutical businesses.

Localities are also required to strengthen monitoring, detect and promptly handle counterfeit drugs and drugs of unknown origin, proactively advise the authorities to organize a peak month to fight against counterfeit drugs according to the direction of the Government, Prime Minister and Ministry of Health.

Poor quality drugs of unknown origin can be harmful to users' health. People need to be more vigilant to protect themselves.

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WILLOW

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/phat-hien-7-thuoc-gia-co-ca-thuoc-tri-tieu-duong-tai-mot-nha-thuoc-2025053007484598.htm