OTTAWA,
ON, July 19, 2024 /CNW/ -
Summary
- Product: Unauthorized drugs sold on Quadragen and
Advanced Research websites associated with the company Quad
Inc.
- Issue: Health products – Unauthorized product; Product
safety
- What to do: Do not use these products. Consult a health
care professional if you have used them and have health concerns.
Only buy prescription drugs from licensed pharmacies. Read product
labels to verify that health products have been authorized for sale
by Health Canada.
Images
Affected products
Unauthorized injectable peptide drugs sold on Quadragen and
Advanced Research websites associated with the company Quad
Inc. Updated on July 19
to include additional unauthorized drugs.
Issue
UPDATE – July 19, 2024:
After further review of the products seized from Quad Inc., Health
Canada is expanding its warning to include additional unauthorized
drugs. In addition to the injectable peptide drugs that Health
Canada previously warned about, the following drug products were
also being illegally sold on the Advanced Research and Quadragen
websites and may pose serious health risks:
- Bromantane and omberacetam oral drops promoted as "nootropics"
on the company's websites. Nootropic drugs are synthetic drugs that
may enhance mental and cognitive skills, however their precise
effects are unknown. There are no drugs authorized in Canada for any use that contain bromantane or
omberacetam.
- RU-58841 topical drops applied to the skin promoted as a
"selective androgen receptor modulator (SARM) for hair regrowth".
The product is a nonsteroidal antiandrogen that blocks the effects
of androgens (male hormones) like testosterone. RU-58841 is not
authorized in Canada for any
use.
The background section below provides additional information on
the health risks related to bromantane, omberacetam, and RU-58841.
Should additional safety concerns be identified, Health Canada will
take appropriate action to protect consumer health and safety and
will inform the public as appropriate.
Original Advisory – June 26,
2024: Unauthorized injectable drug products sold
illegally on Quadragen and Advanced Research websites may pose
serious health risks
Health Canada is warning
consumers not to buy unauthorized injectable drugs from Quadragen
and Advanced Research websites (www.quadragen.io/, and
www.advancedresearch.bio/) because they may pose serious health
risks. Unauthorized injectable drugs carry significant health risks
due to the potential for infection, allergic reactions, and other
poor outcomes.
The two websites are associated with Quad Inc., a company
located in Beloeil, Quebec. Health
Canada seized injectable peptides,
along with unauthorized bodybuilding drugs, from Quad Inc. At
Health Canada's request, the company has stopped advertising and
selling unauthorized health products, including taking down its
Quadragen and Advanced Research websites.
Peptides carry out a range of important functions in the body.
Injectable peptide drugs are often marketed for bodybuilding,
anti-aging, or enhancing athletic performance. Some peptides can be
produced for use in medications. Most synthetic injectable peptides
are regulated as prescription drugs in Canada and require a prescription from a
licenced health care professional. Prescription drugs should only
be used under the advice and supervision of a health care
professional because they are used to treat specific conditions and
may cause serious side effects.
Selling unauthorized health products in Canada is illegal. Unauthorized health
products have not been approved by Health Canada, which means that
they have not been assessed for safety, efficacy and quality and
may pose a range of serious health risks. For example, they could
contain high-risk ingredients, additives or contaminants that may
or may not be listed on the label.
Should additional safety concerns be identified, Health Canada
will take appropriate action to protect consumer health and safety
and will inform the public as necessary.
What you should do
- Do not use these products. Consult a health care professional
if you have used them and have health concerns.
- Only buy prescription drugs from licensed pharmacies and avoid
buying health products from questionable or untrustworthy websites.
Be aware of the risks of buying health products online.
- Follow municipal or regional guidelines on how to dispose of
chemicals and other hazardous waste or return the product to your
local pharmacy for proper disposal.
- Read product labels to verify that health products have been
authorized for sale by Health Canada. Authorized health products
have an eight-digit Drug Identification Number (DIN), Natural
Product Number (NPN) or Homeopathic Drug Number (DIN-HM). You can
also check whether products have been authorized for sale by
searching Health Canada's Drug Product Database and Licensed
Natural Health Product Database.
- Report any health product-related side effects or complaints to
Health Canada.
Background
Bromantane (also known as Ladasten) is a drug that
is not authorized in Canada for
any use and has not been reviewed by Health Canada for safety,
effectiveness and quality. The long-term effects on the body are
unknown. Anti-doping regulations have prohibited its use in sports.
Bromantane has been tested in only a few clinical trials, and there
is no information on dosing in humans or on any potential
interactions with other drugs. In animals, high doses have caused
vomiting, regurgitation, diarrhea, and increased urination.
Bromantane has not been reported to cause withdrawal symptoms or
addiction but some reported adverse events after discontinuation
have included fatigue, depression, and confusion.
Omberacetam (also known as GVS-111 and Noopept) is a drug
that is not authorized in Canada
for any use and has not been reviewed by Health Canada for safety,
effectiveness and quality. The long-term effects on the body are
unknown. One clinical study has shown adverse events such as
increased sleep disturbances, increased blood pressure,
irritability, and headache. The main concern with omberacetam is
the limited clinical information for this drug. The highest
tolerable dose, tolerance and dependence, and interactions with
other drugs are all unknown.
RU-58841 (also known as NH Nootropics) is a nonsteroidal
antiandrogen drug that is not authorized in Canada for any use and has not been reviewed
by Health Canada for safety, effectiveness, and quality. The
long-term effects on the body are unknown. While information from
clinical studies on the safety of RU-58841 is limited, side effects
reported by users include allergic reactions, skin irritation,
redness, itching, and dryness. Based on its mechanism of action, if
absorbed in the blood stream, RU-58841 could cause fatigue,
headache, dizziness, decreased libido, and erectile dysfunction.
The main concern with RU-58841 is the limited clinical information
for this drug. The highest tolerable dose, tolerance and
dependence, and interactions with other drugs are all unknown.
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SOURCE Health Canada (HC)