Information Notice on Certain Stolen Pharmaceutical and Consumer Health Products from GlaxoSmithKline

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GlaxoSmithKline is working with U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Office of Criminal Investigations, the Atlanta District Office (FDA), and other law enforcement officials to recover product that was stolen while being transported from the distributor to wholesalers in the Bayamon district of Puerto Rico on January 29, 2010.  The products and quantities stolen are listed below.  In every instance, the stolen product represents a very small portion of each product lot.

In addition to the prescription products listed above, certain lots of retail-ready consumer healthcare products were also involved in the theft.  The products stolen were full cases of a wide variety of products, including Tums antacid, Sensodyne toothpaste and Poligrip Denture Adhesive and Ecotrin aspirin.  In every instance, the stolen product represents a very small portion of each product lot.

GlaxoSmithKline, along with FDA and local authorities, has initiated efforts to locate the stolen product and identify the individuals who were involved in the theft.

Anyone who has information regarding this incident or has received suspicious or unsolicited offers for the product in question after the date of the theft is encouraged to contact the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Office of Criminal Investigations at 1-800-551-3989 or by visiting the OCI Web Site (http://www.fda.gov/OCI).  Patient or customer inquiries for the company should be directed to GSK’s Customer Response Center at 1-888-825-5249.

GlaxoSmithKline products are delivered in tamper-evident packages or appropriate packaging to protect product integrity.  GSK and the FDA advise physicians, retailers, and consumers to check all products for signs of tampering or damage prior to use.  Do not use the product if the packaging appears to have been disturbed in any way.  It is always advisable to purchase product only from trusted and reliable sources and to be aware that an unusually low price may be an indication that the product has been stolen.

GlaxoSmithKline – one of the world’s leading research-based pharmaceutical and healthcare companies – is committed to improving the quality of human life by enabling people to do more, feel better and live longer.  For further information please visit www.gsk.com.