CDSCO issues alert on Novo drugs after reported theft

New Delhi: The Central Drugs Standard Control Organization (CDSCO) has issued an alert to healthcare professionals to be careful in prescribing Novo Nordisk products after the company said some of its products, including weight-loss drug semaglutide and diabetes treatments insulin Aspart and Degludec, were stolen.

The central pharma regulator has also directed patients and consumers to be careful and procure their products from authorised sources only with due invoices.

The alert, issued Thursday, has also been sent to all state drug control offices with instructions of a strict vigil on the movement of the products in the market and initiate necessary action under the Drugs and Cosmetics Act, 1940.

The note says Novo Nordisk has informed about a theft of its products during transit from its Bhiwandi Hub to milk route (Nagpur, Raipur, Cuttack, and Kolkata).

The products under consideration are rDNA origin injectables which are required to be stored at a certain temperature and quality of the products may be compromised if the products are not handled in proper storage conditions.

"The products under consideration are DNA origin injectables which are required to be stored at 2-8°C. The quality of the products may be compromised if the products are not handled in proper storage conditions since the formulations are supposed to be maintained at 2°C to 8°C failing which, would impact the quality of the product and in turn impact the safety of the patients," said the advisory by India's drug regulator.

The matter is currently under Police investigation, it said.

An email sent to Novo Nordisk did not elicit any response till the press time.