Update: Thieves steal Alcon eye products shipment

Novartis subsidiary Alcon suffered a full trailer load (FTL) theft of various ophthalmic products, including Systane lubricating eyedrops and various pharmaceutical preparations, on July 18 in Florida, USA.

The shipment was being carried by HMD Trucking on behalf of National Consolidated Services, and was in transit from an NCS facility in Alsip, Illinois, to a Walgreens facility in Jupiter, Florida. The load was stolen from a shopping centre parking lot in Riverview, Florida, in the early hours of Monday morning.

Prescription drugs included in the haul include antibiotics (ofloxacin, tobramycin, neomycin and trimethoprim sulfate/polymyxin), corticosteroids (dexamethasone and prednisolone), an anti-inflammatory (ketorolac) and various glaucoma treatments (brimonidine,atropine, pilocarpine and timolol).

The shipment also contained some Novartis Consumer Care Products, including 121 cases of the painkiller Excedrin Extra Strength Caplets (acetaminophen) worth approximately $27,600. All told, the value of the shipment was around $181,500.

The theft of ophthalmic preparations is particularly worrying given the potential for serious side effects that may occur if the products are tampered with while the chain of custody is broken.