GSK Advisory: Warehouse Theft of Advair

GlaxoSmithKline is advising that two lots of Advair Diskus medication were stolen from the company’s distribution facility near Richmond, Virginia on August 2nd. The stolen medicine, could represent a health risk because it has been removed from the legitimate supply chain and storage conditions. Inhalers from these lots should not be dispensed, sold or used.

The lot numbers and quantities are:

• Lot 9ZP2255 - NDC 0173-0696-00, Advair Diskus 250/50, 60 Dose (14,400 inhalers)
• Lot 9ZP3325 - NDC 0173-0697-00, Advair Diskus 500/50, 60 Dose (11,200 inhalers)

These lots were awaiting distribution to retail pharmacies at the time of the theft. Neither of these lots are part of the legitimate pharmaceutical supply chain. GSK has alerted its distributors and customers to the stolen lots.

Anyone who has information regarding this incident, has received suspicious or unsolicited offers for the Advair Diskus lots in question, or has received product from these lots is encouraged to contact the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Office of Criminal Investigations at 1-800-551-3989. Patient or customer inquiries for the company should be directed to GSK's Customer Response Center at 1-888-825-5249.

GSK discourages patients from purchasing any medication sold outside of legitimate channels.

XStream Systems encourages all members of the pharmaceutical supply chain to use pedigrees and authenticate their receiving and returns by using authentication technologies like the XT250 system which verifies materials inside its sealed unit-of-sale container without destroying or degrading the medication.

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Experts Warn Public of 20 Percent Increase in Counterfeits

Fake Flu Medicines and Vaccines expected to be prolific in midst of H1N1 Flu Spread.

Reuters reported yesterday that experts are predicting a dramatic increase in fake goods. The bad economy has spurred an expansion across the black market – including counterfeit medicines, which could pose a public health risk. In light of the recent epidemic of H1N1 Flu, health organizations are warning consumers of the increased risk of fake drugs.

A recap of the story highlights follows:

Experts warn crisis brings more fake goods

MANILA (Reuters) - Global trade in counterfeit goods, including medicines, CDs and DVDs, is expected to rise to nearly $1 trillion this year as economies worldwide continue to slump, security experts said on Thursday.

An estimated $800 billion in fake cigarettes, branded shoes, bags and belts, and pirated movies flowed across the globe in 2007, Stephen Sayell, vice president of Hong Kong-based Asia Risk group, told Reuters.

That figure is expected to rise 20 percent this year.

"As the global financial crisis deepens, the demand for much cheaper consumer goods rises, boosting sales of counterfeiters and movie pirates," Sayell said on the sidelines of a three-day anti-terrorism seminar in Manila.

"We expect a boom in counterfeit medicines and vaccines against flu," Enoch said, warning of potential high risk of a public health threat because of the improper use of anti-viral drugs.

In the Philippines, the health department has already issued a warning against offers by some medical facilities to provide anti-flu shots against the deadly strain of A-H1N1 virus that originated from Mexico.

Last month, the World Health Organization (WHO) warned against the proliferation of fake anti-malaria medicines in the Mekong area, blaming the counterfeit drugs for the emergence of a new strain of malaria that could spread in the region.

(Reporting by Manny Mogato; Editing by Raju Gopalakrishnan and Alex Richardson)

To view the entire article from Reuters visit: uk.reuters.com