FDA Issues Warning Over Unapproved 'Cancer Cure'
A drug marketed as a potential cure for cancer has not been approved for any indications and may contain harmful bacteria.
The FDA today issued a warning for patients to avoid use of the drug PNC-27, which is marketed as an effective cure for cancer. The FDA has not issued an approval for the drug and it is not indicated to treat any conditions.
This warning came to light after the FDA discovered Variovorax paradoxus in an inhalable form of the drug. Contaminated products can lead to serious adverse events that may result in death, according to a press release from the FDA.
Introducing foreign bacteria into the body poses major threats to health that may be amplified in certain populations. Individuals who are the most susceptible to these infections include young children, elderly patients, pregnant women, and those with weak immune systems.
PNC-27 is being sold online in numerous forms, such as a nebulized solution, intravenous solution, vaginal suppository, or rectal suppository, according to the FDA. The PNC-27 website (pnc27.com) states that the compound is a nontoxic protein that is able to selectively bind to receptors found on cancer cells to induce cell death.
The website claims that PNC-27 can effectively treat any form of cancer, meaning that it can cure breast cancer just as effectively as it can cure aggressive melanoma. PNC-27 is available for online ordering for physicians and hospitals outside of the United States, but the FDA warns that patients who have obtained the drug inside of the country may have placed themselves at risk of serious complications.
Individuals who ignore the lack of regulatory approval and use the product may be putting themselves and their health at risk due to contamination, according to the FDA.
At this time, the FDA recommends that patients with cancer discuss approved treatment options with their health care professionals. Patients who have undergone treatment with any form of PNC-27 should discuss health concerns or adverse events with their health care provider.
There have not been any reports of adverse events related to the use of PNC-27 thus far, but adverse events should be reported immediately to the FDA, the press release concluded.
