Novo Nordisk's Wegovy, Fiasp, Ryzodeg Injectables Stolen During Transit, DCGI Issues Alert

New Delhi: The Drugs Controller General of India (DCGI) has issued an alert for doctors and healthcare professionals to carefully prescribe and educate the patients for reporting of any adverse drug reactions (ADRs) after pharmaceutical major Novo Nordisk reported the theft of multiple products of its critical rDNA-origin injectable medicines, including the popular weight loss drug semaglutide and the diabetes treatment insulin aspart, during transit from its Bhiwandi Hub to milk route (Nagpur, Raipur, Cuttack, and Kolkata).

The stolen products include widely used diabetes and obesity treatments such as Ryzodeg FlexTouch (insulin degludec/insulin aspart), Fiasp (insulin aspart) Penfill and FlexTouch, and Wegovy (semaglutide injections).

Novo Nordisk has raised a concern, citing, "The products under consideration are rDNA-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.

The list of products is as follows:

The matter is currently under investigation by the police.

However, based on the above, the following advisory is provided:

Doctors and Healthcare professionals

• Carefully prescribe and educate the patients for reporting of any ADRs.

Patients and consumers

• To be careful and procure the above products from authorized sources only and with proper invoice.

Regulatory authorities (All state/UT Drugs Controllers and Zonal/Sub-Zonal offices of CDSCO)

Instruct your officers to keep a strict vigil on the movement of the said products in the market and initiate necessary action under the provisions of Drugs & Cosmetics Act, 1940 and Rules made thereunder