Fighting fake medicines: Quality evaluation of seven brands of Albendazole tablets in Yemeni Market

Objective: To assess certain quality control parameters for seven brands of albendazole tablets obtained from different retail pharmacies. Methods: The physicochemical properties and active ingredientsofseven randomly selectedbrands of albendazole tablets were assessed weight uniformity, hardness, friability, disintegration and dissolution Results: All seven albendazole brands met the British Pharmacopeia (BP) quality control standards of weight uniformity, friability and the active ingredient content. Five brands met the BP disintegration criterion,whereas only two brands complied with the BP quality control parameters of the dissolution specifications. Conclusions: Out of the seven brands of albendazole (400 mg) tablets, only two fulfillthe BP quality control standards and show physicochemicalquivalence. This emphasizes the need for regular assessment of marketed drugs to assure equivalenceof these drugs to their innovators.