Martin Paul Bean has been sentenced to two years in federal prison for his role in importing and selling more than $7 million in illegal cancer drugs to doctors across the country. Bean and a partner sent thousands of faxes to oncologists that led doctors to believe the deeply discounted drugs were approved by FDA. In fact, the drugs, marketed as Gemzar7, Taxotere7, Zometa7, and Kytril7, had been manufactured in Turkey, India, and Pakistan, imported to California, and then repackaged and shipped to doctors in California, Florida, Texas, and elsewhere. A Federal Bureau of Investigation press release, indicates that more than 50 doctors purchased the cancer drugs from Bean’s online store . The press release also noted that since such foreign drug products illegally coming into the US are not approved by FDA, there is no guarantee that they are safe or effective.
Related to the case, an ad will appear in two medical journals that will warn doctors: “Do not put your patients, yourself or your practice at risk by purchasing and administering unapproved foreign-sourced drugs.” A Pennsylvania oncologist admitted to purchasing the misbranded drugs marketed by Bean while knowing they were foreign, unapproved products, and was ordered to place the ad, along with being fined $100,000.
1 comment:
I have received faxed an e-mails for "deeply discounted injectable drugs" (Botox, Juvederm, Procrit, etc). Doctors know (or "should have known", or "showed a willful disregard") when they buy drugs "on-line", through unlicensed wholesalers, without Pedigrees, etc.
$100,000 fines sound like a lot, but when an Oncology practice of 4 doctors can gross $14 million/year from Medicare and other insurance
companies, netting $7-$9 million) when NOT buying discounted contraband drugs - this fine is small potatoes.
Kenneth Woliner, MD
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