US FDA issues warning letters to two groups for selling fake COVID-19 vaccines

United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and Federal Trade Commission reportedly issued warning letters to two groups for selling fraudulent products related to COVID-19. According to an international media outlet, Apollo Holding LLC and rth Coast Biologics were selling fake vaccines cannabidiol (CBD) oil for coronavirus. 

Apollo Holding was reportedly offering ‘ronaPak’ products which include CBD, derived from cannabis plant. According to reportedly warning letter, products were ‘intended to mitigate, prevent, treat, diagse, or cure COVID-19 n people’. FDA said that dugs were unproven and sold in violation of federal law. Apollo Holding reportedly also made claims such as ‘Fight off coronavirus with ronaPak’. 

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According to letter issued to rth Coast Biologics, company was allegedly offering ‘nCoV19 spike protein vaccine’. FDA in letter reportedly also pointed out that a person involved with rth Coast Biologics also bragged about supposed vaccine of social media platform. employee reportedly claimed that company vaccinated 12 people in West Seattle and y were also going to vaccinate 12 more in Burien. 

letter furr ted that social media post also read that NCB’s COVID-19 spike protein vaccine is being made available to those who are eir at risk or for anyone who simply needs some reassurance. After warning from FDA and FTC, post has, however, been edited. According to FDA edited version w reads that vaccine is longer available due to ‘cease and desist’ letter. Although FDA and FTC also reportedly said that misleading claims still remained online at time of warning. 

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First at-home test

Meanwhile, earlier this month, FDA authorised first diagstic test with option of using home-collected saliva samples for COVID-19. According to press te on FDA website, association issued an emergency use authorisation to Rutgers Clinical Gemics Laboratory for ir COVID-19 laboratory-developed test as well. With test, people can collect ir own saliva at home and send sample to a lab for results. 

FDA press te also mentioned that RUCDR’s test is currently only authorised COVID-19 diagstic test that uses saliva samples to test for deadly virus. association also ted that test is ‘t a general authorisation’ for at-home collection of a patient sample using or collection methods, saliva collection devices, or tests, or for tests fully conducted at home. 

(Im credit: AP)

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