Counterfeit asthma medication found in clinic pharmacy

The Drug Administration of Vietnam (Ministry of Health) has just issued a warning about the counterfeit drug Theophyllin 100mg, related to a product sample discovered at the pharmacy of a general clinic in Dong Nai province that did not meet quality standards.

Theophylline Extended Release Tablets 200mg (Theophylin 200mg) for asthma has been warned of counterfeit products

According to information from the Drug Administration, the drug sample has information on the label as Theophylline Extended-Release Tablets 100mg (Theophyllin 100mg), batch number 05089, production date 2-3-2022, expiration date 2-3-2026, and the place of manufacture is Pharmacy Laboratories Plus (Warsaw). However, this sample does not have information about the circulation registration certificate or import license as well as the importing facility on the label.

Notably, the test results from Dong Nai Province Testing Center showed that the product did not meet quality requirements, only reaching 19.71% of quantitative content and 18.8-22.5% solubility compared to the content stated on the label.

The drug sample was taken by the interdisciplinary inspection team on environment, food safety, health and insurance in Dong Nai (formerly Binh Phuoc ) at My Anh General Clinic Company Limited (address: Da Kia Intersection, Village 4, Da Kia Commune, Bu Gia Map District, Binh Phuoc Province - old).

Previously, in late 2024 and mid-2025, the Drug Administration of Vietnam twice issued warning documents about counterfeit Theophylline 200mg, also bearing the manufacturer's name Pharmacy Laboratories Plus (Warsaw) with the characteristic of not having a circulation registration number or import license on the label.

Of which, a 200mg drug sample was discovered by Vinh Phuc Provincial Testing Center in November 2024, with only 8.7% of the labeled content.

The Drug Administration of Vietnam requested the Dong Nai Provincial Department of Health to coordinate with Steering Committee 389 and relevant agencies to inspect and examine My Anh General Clinic; trace the origin of the suspected drug batch; strictly handle violations and report the results before July 31.

The Department of Health of provinces and cities urgently informs businesses and people not to buy, sell, or use Theophylline Extended-Release Tablets 100mg (or 200mg) with suspicious signs; and to strengthen inspection and supervision of the drug market.

Theophylline is an active ingredient commonly used in the treatment of asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and some respiratory diseases.

The Drug Administration recommends that people should only use drugs of clear origin, licensed for circulation by the Ministry of Health, and should carefully check information about the manufacturer, registration number, expiry date... on the drug label before use.

WILLOW

Source: https://tuoitre.vn/phat-hien-thuoc-tri-hen-suyen-gia-o-nha-thuoc-cua-phong-kham-da-khoa-20250723185421968.htm