NAFDAC bans counterfeit batch of antibiotic drug
The National Agency for Food and Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC) has banned an unregistered batch of Tarivid (Ofloxacin 200mg), a widely used antibacterial medication.
The agency said the World Health Organisation (WHO) Global Surveillance and Monitoring System (GSMS) would be informed of the ban to have it flagged internationally as a counterfeit medication.
In its public alert numbered 21/2025, titled ‘Alert on the Report of Unregistered Tarivid (Ofloxacin 200mg) found in Nigeria’ and released on Tuesday, NAFDAC stated that the product was found on the shelf of a pharmacy in Onipan, Shomolu Local Government Area of Lagos State.
Tarivid, manufactured by a global pharmaceutical company, Sanofi, is a brand of Ofloxacin, a broad-spectrum antibacterial agent used in the treatment of respiratory tract, urinary tract, kidneys, skin, and soft tissue infections.
The unregistered product was manufactured in September 2023. Its expiry date is August 2028
According to the agency, a representative of Sanofi claimed that the identified batch was originally manufactured for distribution in Pakistan. It said the conclusion was backed by a review conducted at Sanofi’s Anti-Falsified and Illicit Trafficking (AFIT) Central Laboratory.
The batch, according to NAFDAC, falls outside the scope of products registered and approved for circulation in Nigeria.
The agency stated that by not complying with regulatory provisions, the safety, quality, and efficacy of such products are not guaranteed.
