The Director General, National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) Prof. Mojisola Adeyeye, has countered the treatment claims of the herbal medicine- Glucozil, for the prevention and cure of diabetes, benign prostatic hyperplasia (BPH) and detoxification, saying the agency never granted such approval.
She further disclosed that the herbal mixture's listing certificate with NAFDAC, which was for the management of high blood sugar, has expired since 9 November, 2022.
In a News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) report published last Thursday, 24 August, 2023, it was stated that Glucozil, a herbal drug, is produced by Edo Government-owned Ambrose Alli University Ekpoma, and has received the approval of NAFDAC for the treatment of diabetes, benign prostatic hyperplasia and detoxification.
Aside the expiration of its listing certificate, NAFDAC DG, in an exclusive chat with pharmanewsonline on the development on Tuesday, blamed the management of Ambrose Alli University for wrongly claiming the ownership of the product, as the manufacturer, noting that the agency’s records never portray the varsity as such.
She said “The Agency Listed Glucozil Capsule on the 10th of November 2020 for the “MANAGEMENT OF HIGH BLOOD SUGAR” (as captured on the approved label and Listing Certificate issued to the applicant) which was valid till 9th November 2022. Therefore the herbal medicine certificate has expired.
“As specified in the Herbal Medicine & Related Products Labelling Regulations 2021, this listing was subject to the inclusion of the mandatory Disclaimer “These claims have not been evaluated by NAFDAC” on the product label.
“This is the regular disclaimer that is used and required for other listed herbal products which have not undergone Clinical Trials that the agency deemed satisfactory.
“Treatment, curative and preventive claims for diabetes, benign prostatic hyperplasia and detoxification were never approved for Glucozil as claimed in the publication and hence should be disregarded by the public”.
She emphasised the importance of verification of facts, especially as it relates to the approval of drugs from appropriate agencies like NAFDAC, before dissemination, as such could mislead patients seeking information for their medical conditions.
“The importance of verifying information from credible sources before disseminating cannot be overstated. Misleading reporting can misinform those seeking medical treatment thereby jeopardizing their health” Adeyeye stated.
