Link To Article: https://www.reuters.com/business/healthcare-pharmaceuticals/fda-warns-online-vendors-selling-misbranded-weight-loss-diabetes-drugs-2024-02-13/
Two online vendors (Synthetix/US Chem Labs) who sell drugs for weight loss, diabetic medicine, and more have received warning letters from the US FDA about selling of unapproved or misbranded versions of two main ingredients in these drugs, semaglutide and tirzepatide. Both companies are required to notify the FDA within 15 days over the specific steps that were taken when making the drugs to address any violations. Neither company responded quickly to Reuters request for a comment about the situation. The FDA found, on some of the sites selling these drugs, products were marked as “research only” alongside those same products marked with health benefits like weight loss, reduce stress, among others.
The selling of unapproved drugs in the United States is a problem that has been relevant for years and continues to remain a problem. Today is a dangerous time with drugs due to countless deaths over the past couple of years from drugs laced with fentanyl. This means it is an important relevant issue the U.S. and FDA need to deal with unless they want the deaths of innocent civilians to continue. One way they can regulate what is in the drugs and the purpose of them is to do some sort of monthly, maybe weekly, check in. This would add some layer of safety reducing the mistakes made or illegal actions taken. This case should also be taken seriously as false advertising, such as in this article, will most likely lead to addiction, health risks, and an unethical way to receive money.
This article relates to what we have learned in class through organized crime. Organized crime happens when associations operate with the purpose of obtaining power, influence, or in this case monetary gain. These associations are often dealt with by law enforcement. This article is a great example because this association who sells drugs are committing a crime using false ingredients which will result in monetary gain for the company. Both companies are also dealing with law enforcement in the FDA.