Warning about Counterfeit Zinnat 500 mg Film Tablet and Identification Methods

Therefore, to ensure safety, users need to identify this counterfeit drug as follows:

- The counterfeit drug is named Zinnat 500 mg Film Tablet;

- The label reads “Sefuroksim aksetil 20 film tablet”, registration number: 14209/QLD-KD dated August 30, 2013, Batch no: C763039, Exp. date: 01-2019;

- The secondary label fraudulently states: manufacturer Glaxo Operatione UK Ltd-England; importer Armephaco Joint Stock Company (address: 118 Vu Xuan Thieu, Phuc Loi, Long Bien District, Hanoi).

According to Official Dispatch 6026, the Drug Administration of Vietnam requests the Departments of Health of provinces and cities under the Central Government, and the Health Departments of sectors to:

- Notify drug trading and using facilities not to buy, sell, or use the aforementioned counterfeit drugs;- Coordinate with relevant authorities to check, verify, and trace the origins of the counterfeit drugs. At the same time, handle violating organizations and individuals according to current regulations.

How does the counterfeit Zinnat 500mg Film Tablet affect human health?

Zinnat contains the active ingredient Cefuroxime acetyl, a semi-synthetic second-generation cephalosporin antibiotic, indicated for treating mild to moderate bacterial infections caused by susceptible bacteria, including:

- Respiratory tract infections, otitis media, recurrent sinusitis, tonsillitis, pharyngitis, acute exacerbations of chronic bronchitis, superimposed acute bronchitis, and community-acquired pneumonia;- Early Lyme disease treatment;- Uncomplicated gonorrhea.

According to Official Dispatch 168/YTDP-KNDPMP dated January 15, 2018, from the Hanoi Center for Preventive Medicine attached with Test Report No. 82/KNT-18 dated January 12, 2018, from the Hanoi Center for Preventive Medicine and Test Report No. 48Gt06 dated January 16, 2018, from the National Drug Testing Institute: The drug named Zinnat 500 mg Film Tablet, labeled “Sefuroksim aksetil 20 film tablet”, registration number: 14209/QLD-KD dated August 30, 2013, Batch no: C763039, Exp. date: 01-2019 did not have the qualitative reaction of Cefuroxime acetyl.

The use of the aforementioned Zinnat drug without cefuroxime acetyl will result in the drug not being effective in treating the diseases as indicated. Using the product mentioned above deprives the patient of the opportunity for treatment and may also contain harmful substances that are not controlled, which can adversely affect the user's health.

(According to Mr. Do Van Dong, Deputy Director of the Drug Administration of Vietnam)

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