 The Bangalore District Chemists and Druggists Association (BDCDA) has alerted its trade fraternity about theft of Lantus SoloStar (Insulin Glargine Injection IP, r-DNA origin, 100 IU/mL), Batch No. 5F0347B of Sanofi India issued vide F. No. Enforc-11021(11)/18/2026-eoffice dated 02.03.2026, and signed by Dr. Rajeev Singh Raghuvanshi, Drugs Controller General of India.
The Association has now called its trade fraternity to purchase only through company-appointed authorized jurisdictional stockists. As per the alert, the above consignment was reported stolen during transit from Jagmohanpur, Keonjhar Road, Odisha en route to the company’s Kolkata CFA. Since the product is a temperature-sensitive rDNA injectable requiring storage at 2°C to 8°C, the quality and safety of any diverted stock would have been seriously compromised. The matter is presently under police investigation, said B Thirunavukkarasu, president, BDCDA in his communication to pharmacy trade fraternity comprising wholesalers and retailers.
This alert about theft of Lantus SoloStar is a risk of compromised quality even with a storage condition advisory. Lantus SoloStar is a cold-chain, sensitive insulin formulation that must be continuously maintained between 2°C and 8°C and protected from freezing, heat exposure, and prolonged ambient conditions. Any break in the cold chain even for a short duration can degrade the insulin’s potency and sterility without visible physical changes. Therefore, any units from the stolen batch should be treated as potentially unsafe for patient use unless their complete storage history is verifiably intact, which in this case cannot be assured, said Thirunavukkarasu.
As custodians of public health, BDCDA strongly cautions against distribution, purchase, sale or usage of the above stolen batch (5F0347B). Patient safety remains paramount. All wholesalers, retailers, healthcare professionals, and citizens are urged to remain highly alert, he said.
Therefore, all wholesalers and retailers are advised to purchase medicines only through company-appointed authorized jurisdictional stockists against valid drug licenses, invoices, ensuring strict verification of batch numbers, cold-chain integrity, and expiry details. Here, BDCDA also cautions the general public to purchase medicines only from duly licensed retail medical stores and to insist on a proper bill or invoice for every transaction, he stated.
The general public should not be influenced by aggressive discounting, misleading advertisements on social media, flash offers, or fear-of-missing-out promotions from chain stores, unregulated online pharmacies, quick-commerce platforms, or informal e-commerce sources. Medicines are not ordinary commodities. Compromised storage, improper handling, or unauthorized supply can directly endanger patient safety. medicines from trusted neighbourhood pharmacies that function under valid licenses and regulatory oversight. Any suspicious stock of this particular Lantus batch should be immediately reported to the authorities / nearest police station, said Thirunavukkarasu in his note to the pharmacy trade.
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