12.05.12
At FDA’s request, U.S. Marshals recently seized dietary supplements and unapproved drugs from Confidence, Inc., of Port Washington, NY. The products seized included Dr. Brain, pH Balance, Fe-Mon-9, Glucosamine Plus and Prostate-7 (all dietary supplements), and Full-Bloom (a drug). Confidence, Inc. claimed these products could be used to treat or cure specific diseases or conditions, such as senile dementia, brain atrophy, atherosclerosis, kidney dysfunction, gangrene, depression, osteoarthritis, dysuria and several types of cancer (e.g., lung, cervix and prostate). To make a claim that a product prevents, treats, cures or mitigates disease, companies generally must demonstrate to FDA that the product is safe and effective for the particular claim.
Confidence, Inc.’s products did not conform to any monograph, nor did the company file or receive approval of a New Drug Application, and the products were not Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) and effective for their recommended uses. Therefore, the products were unapproved new drugs. In addition, the products were misbranded drugs, because their labeling failed to provide adequate directions for their use as drugs. Additionally, the products were not manufactured in accordance with the current good manufacturing practice (cGMP) regulations for dietary supplements.
FDA had previously warned Confidence, Inc. that its products and manufacturing processes violated federal law. “This firm made unfounded claims to consumers. Products with unapproved disease claims are dangerous because they may cause consumers to delay or avoid legitimate treatments,” said Melinda K. Plaisier, FDA’s acting associate commissioner for regulatory affairs.
“The FDA is committed to protecting consumers from the dangers of unapproved products on the market. We will continue to take aggressive enforcement actions against companies that do not meet federal standards for safety, effectiveness and quality.”
Confidence, Inc.’s products did not conform to any monograph, nor did the company file or receive approval of a New Drug Application, and the products were not Generally Recognized As Safe (GRAS) and effective for their recommended uses. Therefore, the products were unapproved new drugs. In addition, the products were misbranded drugs, because their labeling failed to provide adequate directions for their use as drugs. Additionally, the products were not manufactured in accordance with the current good manufacturing practice (cGMP) regulations for dietary supplements.
FDA had previously warned Confidence, Inc. that its products and manufacturing processes violated federal law. “This firm made unfounded claims to consumers. Products with unapproved disease claims are dangerous because they may cause consumers to delay or avoid legitimate treatments,” said Melinda K. Plaisier, FDA’s acting associate commissioner for regulatory affairs.
“The FDA is committed to protecting consumers from the dangers of unapproved products on the market. We will continue to take aggressive enforcement actions against companies that do not meet federal standards for safety, effectiveness and quality.”