Background
In late June 2013 a batch of falsified Postinor 2 was discovered at Lagos International Airport, Nigeria, containing no active pharmaceutical ingredient.
Postinor 2 is an emergency contraceptive ( 0.75mg levonorgestrel). The genuine product is manufactured by Gedeon Richter and is a widely used WHO pre-qualified medicine.
Two large boxes containing 150.000 doses of Postinor 2 were discovered at Lagos International Airport by the Nigerian Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC). The first box contained thousands of Blisters containing 2 x tablets of Postinor 2 in each. The second box contained the outer boxes and patient information leaflets.
WHO was informed on the 3rd July 2013 and subsequently contacted Gedeon Richter. Samples were sent by WHO to a Forensic laboratory for further analysis, where it was established that the tablets contained no active pharmaceutical ingredient (levonorgestrel).
Product details and information is available here.
Advice
Increased vigilance throughout the supply chain is strongly advised for these batches. Postinor 2 should only be obtained from trusted, reliable, and established legal sources.
If you have any questions or further information concerning this batch, or any is found or reported in your country, please, contact rapidalert@who.int.
Product details and information is available here.