Glaxo: 25,000 asthma inhalers stolen

Research Triangle Park, N.C. — GlaxoSmithKline announced Monday that two lots of Advair asthma medication were stolen Aug. 2 from the company's distribution warehouse near Richmond, Va.

Medicine in the stolen cartons could represent a health risk because it has been removed from the legitimate supply chain, and the storage conditions under which the stolen products were held are unknown, the company said.

Inhalers from these lots should not be dispensed, sold or used, the company said. The affected lot numbers are Lot 9ZP2255 - NDC 0173-0696-00, Advair Diskus 250/50, 60 Dose and Lot 9ZP3325 - NDC 0173-0697-00, Advair Diskus 500/50, 60 Dose.

Anyone with information about the theft, who has received suspicious or unsolicited offers for the Advair lots in question or who has received inhalers from these lots is asked to call the U.S. Food and Drug Administration Office of Criminal Investigations at  800-551-3989. Patient or customer inquiries for the company should be directed to GSK's Customer Response Center at 888-825-5249.