Pennsylvania woman accused of giving patients weight loss drugs meant for animals
A woman who operated weight loss and holistic medicine clinics in Pennsylvania is facing a federal charge for allegedly giving patients weight loss drugs meant for animals, describing it as human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG), a pregnancy hormone.
While prosecutors say that is true, they allege Nicole Millen distributed veterinary Chorulon, which contains hCG, indicated for “intramuscular use in cows for the treatment of nymphomania due to cystic ovaries."
The U.S Department of Justice (DOJ) said the defendant prescribed the drugs through Renu Medical and Weight Loss and Choice Restorative Medicine, two clinics in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania that she allegedly operated without professional credentials.
They claim she is not a doctor or advanced clinical professional—not even a veterinarian.
According to the indictment, “Chorulon was never approved for humans and its labeling, when purchased from a licensed distributor, said, ‘For animal use only' and ‘Federal law restricts this drug to use by or on the order of a licensed veterinarian.'”
Authorities go on to add that the clinics, with the help of employees, would order the drug from an out-of-state supplier of animal medicine.
"Upon receipt of Chorulon at the weight loss clinics, defendant Nicole Millen, and employees of the clinics acting at Millen's direction, drew the drug into unlabeled syringes, mixing it with a diluent. The unlabeled syringes were stored in refrigerators at the clinics," the DOJ alleges.
They go on to say she had the drugs distributed to patients in a bag, mislabeled, not even including so much as details on quantity—though syringes were allegedly provided.
"The syringes and bags did not have a label with a list of active ingredients and their quantity or proportion, nor did they contain any label or labeling informing customers that the drugs inside were only approved for animal use,” federal authorities said.
Millen is officially charged with misbranding a drug for interstate commerce, which can result in a fine and/or jail time.
She is being arraigned and scheduled to appear in court on Nov. 18.
Chad is an award-winning writer and editor with over 15 years of experience working in media. He has a decade-long professional background in healthcare, working as a writer and in public relations.