FDA Acts Against ‘Illegal Cancer Treatments’

FDA says it has sent Warning Letters to 14 U.S.-based companies for “illegally selling more than 65 products that fraudulently claim to prevent, diagnose, treat, or cure cancer.” An agency news release says the products are marketed and sold without agency approval, often on Web sites or social media platforms.

The products cited in the Warning Letters include pills, topical creams, ointments, drops, syrups, teas, and diagnostics such as thermography devices. FDA says they include products marketed for use by humans or pets that make illegal, unproven claims about preventing, reversing, or curing cancer; killing/inhibiting cancer cells or tumors; or similar anti-cancer claims.

The letters tell the companies to respond with a plan to correct the violations. Failure to correct the violations promptly may result in legal action, including product seizure, injunction, and/or criminal prosecution, the agency says.