(Updates with company statement, paragraphs 4-7)
March 26 (Reuters) - Some bottles of Alli, GlaxoSmithKlinePlc's weight-loss drug sold over the counter in theUnited States, have been tampered with, and the Food and DrugAdministration was investigating, the company said on Wednesday.
Consumers have reported that about 20 bottles bought instores in seven mostly Southern states contained products otherthan the drug, GlaxoSmithKline said.
The company said the affected bottles from five lots of thedrug could contain tablets and capsules of different shapes andcolors. The actual drug is colored turquoise. The bottles couldbe unlabeled and the lot numbers might not match the numbers onthe carton, GlaxoSmithKline said.
Glaxo spokeswoman Deborah Bolding said that so far therehave been no reports of serious illness related to the products.The company has advised anyone who did take pills found to comefrom packages that had been tampered with to contact theirdoctor.
"We are doing an investigation to determine any furtheraction," she said in a telephone interview.
FDA spokeswoman Tara Goodin confirmed by phone that theregulatory agency was also investigating the tampering.
Alli, which is sold by Glaxo's consumer healthcare business,is approved for use without a prescription for overweightadults, in conjunction with a low-fat diet.
Glaxo said the affected bottles were found in Alabama,Florida, Louisiana, Mississippi, New York, North Carolina andTexas. (Reporting By Vrinda Manocha and Deena Beasley; Editing by TedKerr and Jonathan Oatis)
Glaxosmithkline (GSK)
