FDA Takes Steps to Shut Down Company Importing Drugs From Canada

Associated Press ^ | Jan 22, 2004 | Lauran Neergaard

[John Beresford Tipton]

FDA Takes Steps to Shut Down Company Importing Drugs From Canada By Lauran Neergaard The Associated Press

WASHINGTON (AP) - The federal government moved Thursday to shut down another company that imports cheaper Canadian drugs to the United States.

The Food and Drug Administration gave Expedite-Rx of Temple, Texas, 15 days to quit or face legal action. The warning letter marks the third time the FDA has moved to shut down suppliers who defy its ban on the importation of foreign drugs.

Expedite-Rx supplies drugs to some employees and retirees of Montgomery, Ala., one of two U.S. cities so far that are importing medicines from Canada in hopes of saving money. The FDA said Expedite-Rx's supplies could put those people at risk.

Documents from Montgomery's program and Expedite-Rx's Web site "clearly showed they were in violation of federal law," said FDA pharmacy affairs director Tom McGinnis. "The agency's going to move aggressively against anybody breaking federal law and putting public health at risk."

Calls to Expedite-Rx and Montgomery's city attorney weren't immediately returned.

So far, the FDA hasn't targeted consumers buying the drugs, including Montgomery and the other city pushing the practice, Springfield, Mass. Numerous states are considering similar programs, despite repeated FDA warnings that the practice is illegal.

Instead, it targets their suppliers. Last year, FDA won a court's backing to shut down one major drug importer, Rx Depot. Springfield's supplier, CanaRx, shut its U.S. offices and moved to Canada after the FDA threatened to shut down the business; now the FDA is pushing Canadian authorities to take further action to stop its shipments.

Texas' pharmacy board ordered Expedite-Rx to quit processing prescription orders last July, saying it doesn't even hold the needed license to do business in the state, FDA noted. But the company continued operating.

The FDA says it cannot guarantee the safety of drugs bought abroad, or even that imported drugs come from Canada as claimed instead of originating in other countries, like Thailand. In stopping incoming shipments, the government has intercepted pills made of sugar, controlled substances, animal drugs sold for human use and drugs with other problems.

Brand-name prescription drugs can cost half the U.S. price thanks to Canadian government controls.

In Thursday's warning, the FDA also cited two other Temple-based companies that it believes are related to Expedite-Rx: SPC Global Technologies Inc., an insurance claims processor, and Employer Health Options Inc., an insurance company.

--

On the Net:

Food and Drug Administration: http://www.fda.gov

AP-ES-01-22-04 1703EST

[John Beresford Tipton]

If GWB is not a one termer, it's not for lack of trying,

[Reelect President Dubya]

The FDA grants companies monopolies, and in return the companies act like the FDA is useful.

[Annie03]

Someone should move to shut down the FDA....

[glock rocks]

"The agency's going to move aggressively against anybody breaking federal law and putting public health at risk."

translation: they didn't pay their protection fee.

[Annie03]

LOL-ain't that the truth. I often fantasize how cheap health care & drugs would be if it were not for the govt.

[John Beresford Tipton]

George, why not try blocking imports of cheap drugs to seniors in some other places?

Ohio, Pennsylvania, Indiana, West Virginia come to mind.

[em2vn]

Does NAFTA address this issue?

[Voltage]

Someone should move to shut down the FDA....

OK, so then anyone who wanted to could manufacture and sell their own miracle drugs? You could get cured of cancer without going to Tijuana. Sounds good.

[guardian_of_liberty]

Thats right and if you don't check out the company before you buy then its your problem. I don't want the government to take care of me. I can do that myself.

[Annie03]

The FDA doesn't necessarily make decisions in the interest of the public health and welfare. Regulation doesn't mean all drugs are safe or effective.

[TheBattman]

Between his objections to importing drugs from Canada (WILL be a campaign issue no matter who the RAT nominee is), his stance on illegals will also be a problem for him.

For someone who should be a shoe-in for a 2nd term, GW and his administration is doing everything they can to risk that 2nd term.

Of course, we do have another choice:

http://www.peroutka2004.com/home.html

[TheBattman]

Dunno - might be a loophole - after all, a lot of these medications were manufactured in the US and exported (supposedly without any encumbering tariffs) to Canada. I don't know if NAFTA applies to re-importation.

[motzman]

Of course, we do have another choice:

Certain defeat is a pretty stupid choice.

[Seruzawa]

"The agency's going to move aggressively against anybody breaking federal law and putting public health at risk."

The FDA's going to investigate and prosecute themselves!!!!???? Maybe the FDA itself needs to take some of those killer SSRIs they've approved for treatment of self-destructive people.

[glock rocks]

I often fantasize how cheap health care & drugs would be if it were not for the govt.

I often fantasize how cheap life would be were it not for the govt. The nanny is slowly killing the children (yo, that be us) in its care. A buck at a time.

[TheBattman]

Certain defeat? Is it really a victory if you vote for a person who does not represent your beliefs/views?

I guess that would be like the BCS system - only a couple of coaches voted their conscience instead of the "party line" when they voted for the football national champions.... I have far more respect for those few coaches than I have for any other, unless they were voting what they really believed.

Our two party system in the US has led to to "generic" choices - one Liberal (and growing far more liberal) and another that is more "centrist" and growing less conservative over time.

IF EVERYONE voted for what they truly believe, 3rd parties would be HUGE. The Democrats learned that - the ultra-leftist group voted for 3rd party candidates last election. I would wager that close to 50% of the "hardcore" democrat voters I know align FAR more politically with conservative views than the liberal platform the DemocRATS actually follow.

As long as we voters (regardless of political party affiliation) keep on voting for the two choices - regardless of the party- we are presented with, we will just get more of the same (declining morality, declining rights, increased government control, etc.).

What ever happened to taking a stand for what we believe in? OH - it means "certain defeat", which is a "stupid choice".....

[Ahban]

...and voting for a GOP liberal when you are a conservative is certain defeat. Your way, even when you win, you lose.

Our way, it may take a few elections to kick the door in, but if we win, we win.

[cruiserman]

The FDA should be an advisory board and not have enforcement powers. The IRS, too :).