WASHINGTON - United States health officials have moved to stop 16 foreign-based internet pharmacies from selling versions of the anthrax drug Cipro to Americans worried about biowarfare.
The Food and Drug Administration said the sites likely were selling illegal forms of ciprofloxacin, the generic name for Bayer AG's antibiotic Cipro, that
could be useless or harmful.
The agency e-mailed warnings to 11 of the sites and contacted authorities in their home countries. The FDA also advised the Customs Service that it may stop shipments from the companies at the US border.
Officials identified five additional internet companies that had received warnings for selling other unapproved medicines and now were advertising ciprofloxacin.
"We are going to redouble our efforts ... and try to cease their activities," said Dave Horowitz, acting director of the FDA drug division's compliance office.
Cipro became famous after Americans started buying it as protection against anthrax, a potentially deadly bacteria that has appeared in tainted letters and killed four Americans in the past month.
Dozens of internet sites have sprung up to sell ciprofloxacin, and some have reported brisk sales.
Regulators have not been able to determine whether the ciprofloxacin advertised on the foreign internet sites is legitimate or safe, Horowitz said.
Health officials have urged people not to hoard ciprofloxacin, a prescription drug, or other antibiotics or to take them without a doctor's order. Drugs have side effects, and widespread antibiotic use can promote resistance.
Officials insist the government has stockpiled enough Cipro and other antibiotics to treat anyone exposed to anthrax.
- REUTERS
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