FDA Warns Consumers About Counterfeit Weight Loss Product
FDA is alerting you to the spread of a counterfeit and potentially harmful version of Alli 60mg capsules (120 count refill kit) sold over the Internet. According to the product's manufacturer GlaxoSmithKline (GSK), the counterfeit version of the over-the-counter weight-loss product contains the controlled substance sibutramine rather than the drug's active ingredient orlistat. When mixed with certain medications, sibutramine can react in harmful way and should not be used without physician oversight or in certain patient populations.
Consumers should be wary of attributes specific to the counterfeit Alli, including:
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An outer cardboard packaging without a "Lot" code;
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Expiration date that includes the month, day, and year (e.g., 06162010) rather than the authentic Alli, which only includes only the month and year (e.g.,: 05/12);
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Packaging in a plastic bottle that has a slightly taller and wider cap with coarser ribbing than the genuine product;
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Plain foil inner safety seal under the plastic cap without any printed words; the authentic product seal is printed with "SEALED for YOUR PROTECTION";
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Contains larger capsules with a white powder, instead of small white pellets.
Anyone who has information regarding this incident, has received suspicious or unsolicited offers for the counterfeit Alli 60mg capsules, or has received a product with any of the above warning signs are encouraged to contact the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Office of Criminal Investigations at 800-551-3989 or http://www.fda.gov/OCI. Pictures of counterfeit Alli samples provided by GSK are shown below.
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Official FDA News Release
FDA Warns About Counterfeit Alli
The counterfeit products contain controlled substance sibutramine
Jan. 18, 2010
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is today warning consumers about a counterfeit and potentially harmful version of Alli 60 mg capsules (120 count refill kit).
Preliminary laboratory tests conducted by GlaxoSmithKline (GSK)-the maker of the FDA approved over-the-counter weight-loss product- revealed that the counterfeit version did not contain orlistat, the active ingredient in its product. Instead, the counterfeit product contained the controlled substance sibutramine. Sibutramine is a drug that should not be used in certain patient populations or without physician oversight. Sibutramine can also interact in a harmful way with other medications the consumer may be taking.
Consumers began reporting suspected counterfeit Alli to GSK in early December 2009. GSK has determined that the counterfeit product has been sold over the internet. However, there is no evidence at this time that the counterfeit Alli product has been sold through other channels, such as retail stores.
The counterfeit Alli product looks similar to the authentic product, with a few notable differences. The counterfeit Alli has:
- Outer cardboard packaging missing a "Lot" code;
- Expiration date that includes the month, day, and year (e.g., 06162010); authentic Alli expiration date includes only the month and year (e.g.,: 05/12);
- Packaging in a plastic bottle that has a slightly taller and wider cap with coarser ribbing than the genuine product;
- Plain foil inner safety seal under the plastic cap without any printed words; the authentic product seal is printed with "SEALED for YOUR PROTECTION";
Contains larger capsules with a white powder, instead of small white pellets. Consumers who believe they have received counterfeit Alli are asked to contact the FDA's Office of Criminal Investigations (OCI) by calling 800-551-3989 or by visiting the OCI Web site ( http://www.fda.gov/OCI). Health care professionals and consumers are encouraged to report adverse events that may be related to the use of these counterfeit products to the FDA's MedWatch Program by phone at 1-800-FDA-1088, by fax at 1-800-FDA-0178, or by mail at: MedWatch, HF-2, FDA, 5600 Fishers Lane, Rockville, MD 20852-9787.
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Contact
FDA's Office of Criminal Investigations (OCI)
(800) 551-3989
FDA's MedWatch Program
(800) FDA-1088
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About the SafeMeds Alert System
As part of the FDA's Alert Network, the SafeMeds Alert System is a free service that sends official alerts from the FDA and other government agencies around the world to anyone-private citizens, public groups, corporations, associations-when specific counterfeit drug incidents occur.
The SafeMeds Alert System is a service of the Partnership for Safe Medicines-a group of organizations and individuals that have policies, procedures, or programs to protect consumers from counterfeit or contraband medicines. For more information, please visit SafeMedicines.org. | |
