During the worst flu season in years, FDA is warning consumers about fraudulent and counterfeit flu and antiviral products from online pharmacies.
During the worst flu season in years, FDA is warning consumers about fraudulent and counterfeit flu and antiviral products from online pharmacies.
“This year the flu has been widespread, impacting millions of patients across the country, and leading to a new record number of flu-related hospitalizations,” said FDA Commissioner Scott Gottlieb, MD, in a statement from FDA “As the flu continues to make people sick - and even cause deaths - unscrupulous actors may also be taking advantage of unsuspecting consumers by promoting their fraudulent products that have not been reviewed by the FDA to be safe and effective.”
Related: FDA warns about opioid-containing supplement
To that end, FDA is advising consumers on some of the telltale signs to look for when trying to spot flu products that may be fraudulent.
“Consumers should be aware that there are no legally marketed over-the-counter (OTC) drugs to prevent or cure the flu. Products sold online are fraudulent if they claim to prevent, treat or cure the flu, and have not been evaluated by the FDA for that intended use,” FDA said.
Related: New warning on antibiotic for heart disease patients
Online pharmacies may claim to sell prescription antiviral drugs, such as Tamiflu, at reduced prices or without a prescription, and FDA advises consumers to avoid purchasing products making such claims.
“Legitimate online pharmacies exist, but so do many websites that look like professional and legitimate pharmacies, but are actually fraudulent,” FDA said. “The FDA recommends consumers buy prescription drugs from their local pharmacy or only through an online pharmacy that requires a valid prescription from a doctor or other authorized health care professional and is licensed by the state board of pharmacy (or equivalent state agency) where the patient is located.”
The following flu claims may indicate that an OTC product is fraudulent, according to FDA:
Read more: FDA issues new warning on liver disease drug
FDA Approves Two More Denosumab Biosimilars, Conexxence and Bomyntra
March 27th 2025The fourth pair of denosumab biosimilars, Conexxence and Bomyntra, are expected to launch in the United States in mid 2025, as a result of a global settlement with Amgen, according to a company news release.
Read More
FDA Approves First Drug for Excess Hunger in Prader-Willi Syndrome
March 27th 2025Vykat XR will be available in April to treat the intense hunger that is a hallmark of the rare genetic disease Prader-Willi syndrome. The price is based on a patient’s weight, and the average patient in the clinical trials would have had an average annual cost of $466,200 for the first year.
Read More
FDA Approves Amvuttra for ATTR-CM in Extended Label
March 21st 2025This expanded indication for Amvuttra makes it the first and only FDA-approved treatment for transthyretin amyloidosis with cardiomyopathy (ATTR-CM) and the polyneuropathy of hereditary transthyretin-mediated amyloidosis (hATTR-PN) in adults.
Read More