Doctor implicated in probe

An ongoing investigation into a Carson City drug supplier, Pharmacy International LLC, could be connected to a Reno-based doctor who allegedly bought human growth hormones through the company and prescribed them to elderly patients, claiming the drugs had anti-aging benefits, a source said.

The U.S. Food and Drug Administration has not approved human growth hormones for anti-aging treatment.

A spokesperson with the U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement would neither confirm nor the deny the investigation, saying only that multiple "search warrants were executed in the Carson City area."

The FDA would not talk about the case, saying it does not comment on ongoing investigations. The doctor allegedly involved in the investigation could not be reached for comment.

On Wednesday, federal authorities searched the Carson City offices of Pharmacy International for human growth hormones - the drug Bio-Tropin in particular - and any records pertaining to their sale. According to a source, investigators were interested in sales of the drug to a Reno doctor.

The FDA has removed Bio-Tropin from the U.S. market. It is only available in foreign countries, where Pharmacy International purchases its drugs at cheaper costs.

Bio-Tropin is distributed in the United States under the name Tev-Tropin, manufactured by Teva Pharmaceuticals Industries.

Doctors prescribe it to children whose development is stunted.

The drug maker's Web site, Savient Pharmaceuticals, defines Bio-Tropin as a "genetically engineered hormone ... indicated for the treatment of pituitary growth hormone deficiency in children."

But when used in aging adults, it could have harmful side effects, such as causing diabetes.

Several online drug sellers tout Bio-Tropin as an anti-aging wonder drug. In 2004, the FDA ordered a Texas-based human-growth-hormone retailer to stop selling its product as an anti-aging drug.

"Your growth hormone is being promoted and distributed on your Web site for an unapproved use," the FDA told the Texas-based drug supplier in a letter. "There are no recombinant human growth hormone (somatotropin) products that are approved by the FDA for anti-aging treatment."

Promoting a human growth hormone for illegal use can be punished by up to five years in prison and applicable fines.

Title 21 under U.S. Code says, "... whoever knowingly distributes, or possesses with intent to distribute, human growth hormone for any use in humans other than the treatment of a disease or other recognized medical condition ... is guilty of an offense punishable by not more than five years in prison."

So far, no charges have been filed in the case and the investigation is ongoing.

n Contact reporter Dan Moreau at dmoreau@nevadaappeal.com or 881-1217.