ALCON : Consumer Alert: Cargo Theft of Novartis, Alcon and Falcon Products

Novartis and its Alcon Division are working with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), industry cargo thefts organizations, and law enforcement officials to recover Novartis, Alcon, and Falcon* products that were stolen on July 18, 2011 while being delivered to a customer’s distribution center in Florida. The products stolen are listed below and represent a small portion of each product lot, which have already been distributed within the United States, Puerto Rico, and its territories. Products from the below listed lots that were delivered prior to July 18 are not affected by this event.

*Falcon is a line of generic eye care pharmaceuticals from the Sandoz Division of Novartis.

Anyone who has information regarding this incident, or has received suspicious or unsolicited offers for the specified products 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 to visit the OCI Web Site (http://www.fda.gov/OCI).

Novartis, Alcon, and Falcon products are delivered in tamper-evident packaging to protect product integrity.  Novartis, Alcon, and the FDA advise physicians, retailers, and consumers to purchase product only from trusted and reliable sources and to check all products for signs of tampering or damage prior to purchase and/or use.  Do not use the product if the packaging appears to have been disturbed in any way.  Be aware that an unusually low price may be an indication that the product may have been stolen.  Stolen medicine may be harmful because it may have been stored at the wrong temperature or humidity or other improper conditions, may degrade or lose potency, become contaminated, or may have been tampered with or handled improperly while outside of the legitimate supply chain. 

All Novartis, Alcon, and Falcon products are safe and effective when used as directed and purchased from legitimate and reputable retail outlets and pharmacies.

Alcon and Falcon eye care products should only be used after consulting with a licensed eye care professional. Only a licensed eye care professional can properly diagnose and treat eye diseases and eye conditions.

Patient or customer inquiries should be directed to:

• Novartis Consumer Health Customer Relations at 800-452-0051
• Alcon/Falcon Customer Service at 800-862-5266

BRAND	PRODUCT	DESCRIPTION	DOSAGE	NDC#	LOT/BATCH	QUANTITY
ALCON	I-CAPS AREDS TABLETS (TIME-RELEASE)	Nutritional Supplement	120 COUNT	N/A	1CR0301	9 CASES
ALCON	I-CAPS LUTEIN & ZEAXANTHIN TABLETS	Nutritional Supplement	120 COUNT	N/A	1ER0141	20 CASES
ALCON	OPTI-FREE EXPRESS MULTI-PURPOSE DISINFECTING SOLUTION	OTC Lens Care Solution	10 OZ	N/A	183045F	34 CASES
ALCON	OPTI-FREE EXPRESS MULTI-PURPOSE DISINFECTING SOLUTION	OTC Lens Care Solution	2 OZ	N/A	192174F	25 CASES
ALCON	OPTI-FREE EXPRESS MULTI-PURPOSE DISINFECTING SOLUTION	OTC Lens Care Solution	2 x 10 OZ	N/A	179296F	1 CASE
ALCON	OPTI-FREE EXPRESS MULTI-PURPOSE DISINFECTING SOLUTION	OTC Lens Care Solution	2 x 10 OZ	N/A	187037F	10 CASES
ALCON	OPTI-FREE REPLENISH	OTC Lens Care Solution	10 OZ	N/A	177640F	70 CASES
ALCON	OPTI-FREE REPLENISH	OTC Lens Care Solution	10 OZ	N/A	184542F	42 CASES
ALCON	OPTI-FREE REPLENISH	OTC Lens Care Solution	4 OZ	N/A	187821F	24 CASES
ALCON	OPTI-FREE REPLENISH REWETTING DROPS	OTC Lens Care Solution	10ML	N/A	188050F	10 CASES
ALCON	SYSTANE 15ML +33% MORE FREE	OTC Drug	20ML	0065-0429-84	192417F	60 CASES
ALCON	SYSTANE BALANCE	OTC Drug	10ML	0065-1433-02	188132F	16 CASES
ALCON	SYSTANE NIGHTTIME	OTC Drug	3.5GM	0065-0509-35	11D13G	20 CASES
ALCON	SYSTANE ULTRA	OTC Drug	10ML	0065-1431-05	186583F	41 CASES
ALCON	SYSTANE ULTRA BONUS PAK	OTC Drug	2 x 10ML	0065-1431-41	187811F	6 CASES
ALCON	SYSTANE ULTRA UNIT DOSE	OTC Drug	24 x 0.5ML	0065-0432-01	11114A	6 CASES
ALCON	SYSTANE UNIT DOSE	OTC Drug	28 x 0.4ML	0065-0431-32	11195A	6 CASES
FALCON	ATROPINE SULFATE OPHTHALMIC SOLUTION 1%	Rx Drug	15ML	61314-303-02	182819F	48 EA.
FALCON	BRIMONIDINE TARTRATE OPHTHALMIC SOLUTION 0.15%	Rx Drug	10ML	61314-144-10	186814F	240 EA.
FALCON	BRIMONIDINE TARTRATE OPHTHALMIC SOLUTION 0.15%	Rx Drug	15ML	61314-144-15	184721F	48 EA.
FALCON	BRIMONIDINE TARTRATE OPHTHALMIC SOLUTION 0.15%	Rx Drug	5ML	61314-144-05	188857F	96 EA.
FALCON	DEXAMETHASONE SODIUM PHOSPHATE OPHTHALMIC SOLUTION 0.1%	Rx Drug	5ML	61314-294-05	188840F	48 EA.
FALCON	KETOROLAC TROMETHAMINE OPHTHALMIC SOLUTION 0.5%	Rx Drug	10ML	61314-126-10	191015F	96 EA.
FALCON	KETOROLAC TROMETHAMINE OPHTHALMIC SOLUTION 0.5%	Rx Drug	5ML	61314-126-05	191016F	384 EA.
FALCON	NEOMYCIN AND POLYMYXIN B SULFATES AND DEXAMETHASONE OPHTHALMIC OINTMENT	Rx Drug	3.5GM	61314-631-36	11D26EF	288 EA.
FALCON	NEOMYCIN AND POLYMYXIN B SULFATES AND DEXAMETHASONE OPHTHALMIC SUSPENSION	Rx Drug	5ML	61314-630-06	185157F	288 EA.
FALCON	OFLOXACIN OTIC SOLUTION	Rx Drug	5ML	61314-015-05	186980F	672 EA.
FALCON	PILOCARPINE HYDROCHLORIDE OPHTHALMIC SOLUTION 2%	Rx Drug	15ML	61314-204-15	180896F	48 EA.
FALCON	PREDNISOLONE ACETATE OPHTHALMIC SUSPENSION 1%	Rx Drug	10ML	61314-637-10	190404F	384 EA.
FALCON	PREDNISOLONE ACETATE OPHTHALMIC SUSPENSION 1%	Rx Drug	5ML	61314-637-05	190367F	1056 EA.
FALCON	SULFACETAMIDE SODIUM 10% AND PREDNISOLONE SODIUM PHOSPHATE 0.25%	Rx Drug	5ML	61314-297-05	187416F	96 EA.
FALCON	TIMOLOL MALEATE OPHTHALMIC GEL FORMING SOLUTION 0.25%	Rx Drug	5ML	61314-224-05	186839F	48 EA.
FALCON	TIMOLOL MALEATE OPHTHALMIC GEL FORMING SOLUTION 0.25%	Rx Drug	5ML	61314-224-05	190390F	288 EA.
FALCON	TIMOLOL MALEATE OPHTHALMIC SOLUTION 0.5%	Rx Drug	10ML	61314-227-10	184268F	528 EA.
FALCON	TIMOLOL MALEATE OPHTHALMIC SOLUTION 0.5%	Rx Drug	15ML	61314-227-15	188175F	240 EA.
FALCON	TOBRAMYCIN AND DEXAMETHASONE OPHTHALMIC SOLUTION	Rx Drug	10ML	61314-647-10	186824F	144 EA.
FALCON	TOBRAMYCIN AND DEXAMETHASONE OPHTHALMIC SOLUTION	Rx Drug	2.5ML	61314-647-25	187402F	144 EA.
FALCON	TOBRAMYCIN AND DEXAMETHASONE OPHTHALMIC SOLUTION	Rx Drug	5ML	61314-647-05	188186F	384 EA.
FALCON	TRIMETHOPRIM SULFATE AND POLYMYXIN B SULFATE OPHTHALMIC SOLUTION	Rx Drug	10ML	61314-628-10	190394F	528 EA.
NOVARTIS	EXCEDRIN EXTRA STRENGTH CAPLETS	OTC Drug	250 COUNT	0067-2000-07	10116785	2904 EA.
ALCON	GENTEAL SEVERE OPHTHALMIC LUBRICATING GEL	OTC Lubricating Ophthalmic Gel	10G	0078-0429	419072	7 CASES

Novartis and its Alcon Division have taken quick and appropriate actions to ensure the safety of their products and will continue to work closely with law enforcement authorities, the FDA, and distribution partners to maintain the integrity of the supply chain.