No More OTC Placenta Hormone in Texas

DALLAS (CN) - A diet supplement-maker agreed to stop selling banned human chorionic gonadotropin products in Texas, the attorney general said.

Texas filed an assurance of voluntary compliance with Windmill Health Products in Dallas County Court.

Human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) is a hormone produced by the placenta. Some cancerous tumors produce hCG, so elevated levels detected from a person who is not pregnant can lead to a cancer diagnosis. The drug may be prescribed for fertility problems in men and women.

But the FDA in December 2011 prohibited the sale of over-the-counter hCG products.

Windmill, based in West Caldwell, N.J., agreed to stop accepting orders in Texas for its hCG supplements.

Diets with hCG have existed for decades, and have become popular again. Many involve drastic reduction of caloric intake along with hCG.

Windmill agreed not to sell or give away hCG in Texas unless the drug has been approved by the FDA. It also agreed not to make, push or sell any dietary supplement whose name is hCG or is substantially similar to hCG.

It agreed to disclose clearly that such supplements cannot be sold in Texas, not to "represent that any weight loss is associated with the use of hCG," and not to "falsely advertise that hCG is safe and effective for unapproved uses."But Texas will allow Windmill to sell its existing inventory of dietary supplements in the state that do not violate the agreement and that are labeled for sublingual administration, for up to 6 months.

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