Current News |
FDA Cautions Consumers
Against Cancer "Cures"
By REUTERS
Published: June 17, 2008
Filed at 2:55 p.m. ET
http://www.nytimes.com/reuters/news/news-cancer-fda-fraud.html?scp=2&sq=FDA&st=nyt
Skip to next paragraph WASHINGTON
(Reuters) - Consumers should beware of
products sold on the Internet that claim
to cure cancer, U.S. health officials
said on Tuesday, threatening penalties
against more than two dozen companies
selling creams, tea and pills as
treatments for the disease.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration
said a variety of Web sites sell such
products, which can harm patients with
potentially risky ingredients or by
keeping them from seeking proven
therapies.
"FDA is very concerned consumers will
purchase these products on the Internet
and use them instead of products that
have been proven safe and effective,"
said Michael Levy, head of the FDA's
Division of New Drugs and Labeling
Compliance.
Levy and other agency officials said
their warning letters targeted roughly
125 products that claim to treat, cure
or prevent cancer. The FDA has not
received any reports from consumers who
have fallen ill taking them, officials
said, but called on the companies to
stop making promises.
They could not say how many such
products have been sold. Some included
various ingredients such as bloodroot,
shark cartilage, coral calcium and
various mushrooms, according to the
agency.
Representatives for the American Herbal
Products Association said such
ingredients are not harmful but that
manufacturers of products that include
them are not allowed by law to make
medical claims.
"These companies are making drug claims
and it is simply illegal to market an
unapproved new drug," said Michael
McGuffin, president of the association
which represents a variety of herbal
product makers.
Cancer is a condition that comes in many
forms and causes cells to grow out of
control. Approved treatments include
such methods as surgery, radiation,
chemotherapy and other medications.
"FDA expects prompt and complete
corrective action," said David Elder,
director of the FDA's Office of
Enforcement. "Firms that don't heed the
warnings that we've delivered and other
firms marketing similar unapproved
products may face further regulatory
action."
The agency can levy fines, impose
injunctions and seize products, among
other penalties.
FDA officials conceded that the Internet
makes it easy for companies to shut down
one site and start up another. They also
said it can be difficult to track down
who actually operates a website, which
can be registered in one country but run
in another.
The agency listed the companies targeted
by the letters on its website at:
http://www.fda.gov/cder/news/fakecancercures.htm.
(Reporting by Susan Heavey, editing by
Will Dunham and Sandra Maler) |
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