Tracing the origin of 7 suspected fake drugs at Duc Anh pharmacy

The Drug Administration of Vietnam (Ministry of Health) said that 7 drug samples at Duc Anh Pharmacy (Hanoi) did not have any information on the registration number or import license number. The Department requested the Hanoi Department of Health to trace the origin and coordinate the inspection of this pharmacy.

The Drug Administration of Vietnam ( Ministry of Health ) has just sent a document to the Department of Health of provinces and centrally run cities to notify about counterfeit drugs, drugs of unknown origin and handle violations.

According to the Drug Administration of Vietnam, recently, the Hanoi Center for Drug, Cosmetic and Food Testing has sent a report with the minutes of taking drug and cosmetic samples to test the quality of the product Diamicron MR 60mg (Gliklazid), batch number 23F603, expiry date April 2026, not meeting the quality requirements for the quantitative index of Gliclazid according to the Vietnam Pharmacopoeia V - monograph of Gliclazid tablets with the result of 42.5mg/tablet (70.83% compared to the content stated on the label).

A drug that violates the law is required to be traced and people are advised not to use it.

The above sample of Diamicron MR 60mg and 6 other samples taken for quality testing at Duc Anh Pharmacy, under Duc Anh Pharmaceutical and Medical Equipment Company Limited (No. 8 Huynh Thuc Khang Street, Lang Thuong, Dong Da District, Hanoi) all do not have information on the circulation registration number, or import license number; information on the drug manufacturing facility, drug importing facility.

The 7 drug samples include: Diamicron MR 60mg (Gliklazid), batch number 23F603, expiry date 4/2026; Oseltamivir, batch number M1164B01, manufactured in March 2021, expiry date 2 years; Crestor 20mg (Rosuvastatin), batch number A23237030, expiry date 4/2026; Janumet 50/1000mg (Sitagliptin/Metformin), batch number 24497505A, expiry date 7/2026; Plavix (Klopidogrel), batch number ELB04027, expiry date 5/2027; Nexium 40mg Enterik Kapli Pellet Tablet (Esomeprazole), batch number 23H420, expiry date September 2027; Crestor 10mg (Rosuvastatin), lot number A24236004, expiry date 7/2027.

According to the Drug Administration of Vietnam, of these 7 drug samples, the Administration has issued a document to recall some due to counterfeiting such as Nexium and many other drugs have been recalled since 2022 due to quality violations.

The Drug Administration of Vietnam requests the Hanoi Department of Health to urgently report to Steering Committee 389 and coordinate with the police, market management, local Steering Committee 389 and relevant authorities to conduct inspections and checks on the compliance with pharmaceutical laws of Duc Anh Pharmacy.

Trace the origin of 7 product batches without information on the circulation registration number, or import license number, manufacturing facility, and importing facility mentioned above; strictly handle violating facilities according to regulations; report the results of inspection, examination, and handling to the Department of Drug Administration before June 2.

The Drug Administration also requested the Department of Health of provinces and cities to communicate and inform drug trading and using establishments and people not to buy/sell or use the 7 batches of drug products mentioned above. People should only buy and sell drugs at legal drug trading establishments, not buy/sell drugs of unknown origin; promptly report any suspicious signs of production and trading of counterfeit drugs or drugs of unknown origin to health agencies and relevant authorities.

Previously, on May 29, the Drug Administration of Vietnam also informed about the discovery of counterfeit Theophylline Extended Release Tablets 200mg (Theophylin 200mg) - an asthma treatment drug that did not meet the quantitative standards stated on the label, only 6.3%.

The above drug sample was taken by the Hanoi Center for Drug, Cosmetic and Food Testing at An An Pharmacy (No. 153, Group 14, Kien Hung Ward, Ha Dong District, Hanoi) and did not meet the quality requirements for Theophylline quantification (only 6.3% compared to the content stated on the label).

Source: https://cand.com.vn/y-te/truy-tim-nguon-goc-7-mau-thuoc-nghi-gia-o-nha-thuoc-duc-anh-i769996/