Personal Injury Law

FTC Takes Action Against Companies Promoting Bogus Cancer Cures

By Chrissie Cole

The only thing worse than a cancer diagnosis, is the promise of a bogus cure.

Hundreds of internet sites are falsely claiming they are "selling the cure for cancer" and now the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) is taking action against several of those companies.

The FTC, last week, disclosed actions being taken against 11 companies that used deceptive advertising to promote bogus online cancer cures.

The agency is charging the companies with making unsupported claims that their products cured or treated one or more types of cancer.

The companies are charged with violating the FTC act, which prohibits deceptive claims. Some complaints also accuse the companies of falsely claiming to have clinical or scientific evidence of their products.

Lydia Parnes, director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection says, "There is no credible scientific evidence that any of these products, marketed by these companies, can prevent, treat or cure any type of cancer."

Actions have been taken against 11 companies. Six of which have already reached settlements with the agency; the other five will be prosecuted.

When you take into consideration the sheer number of sites on the internet claiming to have a cure for cancer that can be easily found, eleven sites is a small dent into a bigger problem.

A Google search using the words "cancer," "miracle" and/or "cure" resulted in thousands of results. While some were legitimate scientific procedures, many contained a list of sponsored links that are paid for by the companies so their bogus cures are on the first page of Google's results.

In one such instance, there was a website advertising "Miracle Water for Cancer" that claimed the product could control the disease, while aiding weight loss and the promise of the fountain of youth.

Another website claimed to have a miracle cure "the drug companies hope you never find out about," that is a vitamin that will "virtually wipe out the chance of developing cancer."

There are is no shortage of sites ready and willing to "sell snake oil to consumers," said Parnes.

At the start the investigation, the agency found 112 websites making unsupported cancer-cure claims. The agency sent each company a warning letter that stated because the products claimed to cure, prevent or treat cancer, and the products are not proven to be safe and effective for their labeled use, they are unapproved new drugs marketed in violation of the Federal Food, Drug and Cosmetic Act.

Nearly all the sites have since removed unsubstantiated claims or shut down all together.

Each company that settled has agreed to cease making unsupported claims; however, they have not admitted any wrongdoing.

The agency has also launched a website called, Cure-ious? Ask. that will host educational materials to help consumers detect and report false cancer claims. It also urges people with cancer to talk to their doctors about any new products they would like to try.

"This is not a random or short term effort by the agency," said Parnes. "We have been investigating for quite some time and we plan to continue." #

Full post as published by InjuryBoard on September 22, 2008 (boomark / email).