UK govt warned against Internet cancer drugs

The UK government has been warned by the parliamentary group on cancer that more British people are buying drugs via the Internet which offer unproven benefits against the disease. A report in the Guardian newspaper states that dichloroacetate (DCA) is being offered to patients on the basis of animal research data published in the Cancer Cell journal in early 2007.

Jim Tassano, the owner of a California, USA-based pest control company which sells the drug, told the Guardian that he is wary of making any public claims about any alleged benefits of DCA, because the Food and Drug Administration cracks down on the promotion of active ingredients for unlicensed purposes. Kat Arney, a spokeswoman for Cancer Research UK, described the case as "probably the worst thing possible." Dr Arney added that people taking DCA may be vulnerable to adverse effects.