FDA Lambastes Phony HIV, Herpes Cures

The Food and Drug Administration announced this week that it’s going after over a dozen companies selling non-prescription pills and supplements—like Medavir, Herpaflor and C-Cure—that purport to cure STDs like HIV, Herpes and HPV. Federal health officials say that none of these products have been proven to be effective treatment for such diseases and are in fact a public health hazard, since patients could put off seeking proper medical care by taking the phony pills, allowing their conditions to worsen.

Federal law states that any product that claims to treat a disease must undergo federal scientific review. The companies that the FDA called out this week have 15 days to remove their products from the market. Failure to do so could result in legal action. And just to clarify: The FDA has said that it’s never approved any non-prescription medication for the treatment of STDs. Buyer beware, etc.