FDA tell web site: "stop selling DCA"

The US Food and Drug Administration has ordered an unnamed web site to cease manufacturing and distributing an unlicensed compound, dichloroacetate (DCA), to cancer sufferers. The site has placed a notice informing visitors of the FDA's action.

DCA has been shown to reduce tumors in rats and a University of Alberta, Canada, study has suggested that the drug might cause fewer adverse reactions than conventional oncology products, Cancer Research UK reports.

However, the UK charity "strongly advises" against people purchasing DCA on-line, with Kate Law, the group's clinical trials director, saying that "DCA has not been fully tested in people and may be harmful to cancer patients." She added: "we are pleased the FDA has taken the decisive decision to limit the sale of DCA over the Internet."