Tracing the origin of fake Nexium acid reflux medicine

On May 23, the Department of Drug Administration sent a document to local Departments of Health regarding the inspection, handling, and tracing of the origin of fake Nexium 40mg.

The Drug Administration of Vietnam received an official dispatch with an analysis report from the Hanoi Center for Drug, Cosmetic and Food Testing, reporting that the product sample has information on the label as Nexium 40mg Enterik Kapli Pellet Tablet (Esomeprazole), batch number 23H420, expiry date September 2027, with no information on the circulation registration number, or import license, manufacturing facility, or 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).

Counterfeit Nexium samples were announced by the Drug Administration to be recalled from 2023.

The drug sample did not meet the quality requirements for the quantitative index of Esomeprazole according to the reference document Nexium Tablet Basic Standard, registration number VN-19782-16, 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 circulation registration number, or import license, manufacturing facility, or 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 used to treat symptoms of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD) and other conditions involving excessive stomach acid.

The Drug Administration of Vietnam also requested health departments to communicate and inform drug trading and usage establishments and people not to buy, sell or use the above-mentioned Nexium 40mg Enterik Kapli Pellet Tablet (Esomeprazole); 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 the Departments of Health notifying 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.

Source: https://cand.com.vn/y-te/truy-tim-nguon-goc-thuoc-dieu-tri-trao-nguoc-da-day-nexium-gia-i769296/