Biovea, dealers in illegal unlicensed medicines

Thanks to the efforts of a friend of mine, an illegal unlicensed medicine is fast disappearing from the shelves.

(Image credit)

Human chorionic gonadotropin has featured in these pages several times before as a useless and dangerous treatment for weight loss.

It's illegal both in the US and the UK, a fact which doesn't seem to discourage people from trying to flog it on dodgy websites.

A good example is Biovea, a company registered to a mailbox in Kensington. The company are wise to keep their location under wraps, given the scale of the crimes they're committing.

In the case of medicines, it's always worth complaining to the Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA), who have recently been aroused from their regulatory slumber.

You can read my MHRA complaint below and marvel at the power of FishBarrel, the Chrome plugin with which I completed complaints to three separate regulators in about seven minutes.

"Biovea is advertising an unlicensed medicine, homeopathic hCG, on its website http://www.biovea.co.uk. I understand that dealing in these products is an offence in the UK.

I've summarised the claims the company is making for these products below.

1. ( http://www.biovea.co.uk/(S(me5r2z45rtrrfg3ldwa2xm45))/product_detail.aspx?PID=2236&CID=0&OS=204 )

"With this 26 day kit we provide you with more than enough Homeopathic hCG and all the essential supplements you will need for a 26 day cycle using an hCG diet! We are making it easy for you to lose up to 1 pound a day!"

2. ( http://www.biovea.co.uk/(S(me5r2z45rtrrfg3ldwa2xm45))/product_detail.aspx?PID=2236&CID=0&OS=204 )

"The HCG 26 Day Complete Diet Pack Includes:

• HOMEOPATHIC HCG DROPS (2 oz) 60ml
• HCG DIET SUPPORT 60 Capsules"

3. ( http://www.biovea.co.uk/(S(me5r2z45rtrrfg3ldwa2xm45))/product_detail.aspx?PID=2236&CID=0&OS=204 )

"When the hypothalamus is stimulated the body is able to release abnormal fat, which allows the body to rid itself of massive amounts of this type of fat very quickly. Dr. Simeons HCG diet protocol outlines a very low calorie diet (VLCD), in combination with HCG, which helps to stimulate the hypothalamus."

4. ( http://www.biovea.co.uk/(S(me5r2z45rtrrfg3ldwa2xm45))/product_detail.aspx?PID=2236&CID=0&OS=204 )

"When a person successfully completes the HCG protocol diet plan the hypothalamus is able to reset and function properly."

5. ( http://www.biovea.co.uk/(S(me5r2z45rtrrfg3ldwa2xm45))/product_detail.aspx?PID=2236&CID=0&OS=204 )

"Dr. Simeons through his research concluded that an abnormal operating hypothalamus is a leading cause of obesity."

6. ( http://www.biovea.co.uk/(S(me5r2z45rtrrfg3ldwa2xm45))/product_detail.aspx?PID=2236&CID=0&OS=204 )

"Why Choose Homeopathic HCG Drops Over Injections?

Same Results! Participants that have tried both the full strength hormone injections and these homeopathic drops and have reported the same results if not better from the homeopathic drops."

7. ( http://www.biovea.co.uk/(S(me5r2z45rtrrfg3ldwa2xm45))/product_detail.aspx?PID=2236&CID=0&OS=204 )

"People who have successfully completed Dr. Simeons diet program have reported experiencing following benefits:

• No Loss of Muscle Mass: rejuvenated structural fat
• Fat Deposits: reduced overall (pot belly and double chins gone)
• Energy: increased without feeling nervous or jittery
• Thyroid Gland: normalized
• Overall Body: reshaped overall body
• Hormones: balanced out put
• Sleep: improved restful sleep at night
• Adrenaline Glands: rebuilt
• Appetite: normalized
• Cholesterol: normalized levels
• Focus: clearer thought process
• Singing Voice: improved
• Mood: less irritability, spirits lifted
• Anti-Ageing: tightened skin, more youthful energy and appearance"

I've made some screenshots of the relevant pages, which are available at:
http://leicester.skepticsinthepub.org/FishBarrel/ci.aspx?id=OqzD74OJF4
http://leicester.skepticsinthepub.org/FishBarrel/ci.aspx?id=sAPP7ob7A2
http://leicester.skepticsinthepub.org/FishBarrel/ci.aspx?id=GB5WRULmlU

I can confirm that I have no connections with the advertiser or with the alternative medicine industry in general."