Ellen Rosenblum, Oregon Attorney General, filed a lawsuit on behalf of the state of Oregon against GNC. The state accuses the retailer of selling nutritional and dietary supplements that contain ingredients that have not been approved for sale in the US and may not be safe.
The Source of the GNC Lawsuit: Picamilon and BMPEA
Picamilon is a synthetic chemical, and it’s used in some countries as a prescription drug to treat neurological conditions. The drug was developed by the Soviet Union, and it has been used in Russia since its inception, but it has not yet been approved as either a prescription or an over the counter drug in the United States. Some advocates for the drug claim that it is a wonder supplement, and gives patients increased focus and energy and lowers stress levels.
BMPEA is a compound similar to amphetamine, and according to the lawsuit, though it was first made in the 1930’s, it has never been tested on humans. According to the FDA, it’s a substance that doesn’t meet the standards of a dietary ingredient. The chemical is known by other names such as: r-beta-methylphenethylamine, beta-methylphenethylamine or 1-amino-2-phenylpropan. Sources have reported that it is more likely to cause fluctuations in blood pressure than act as a stimulant, and classified it as an asumpathomimetic drug. This means that it mirrors the actions of neurotransmitters norepinephrine and epinephrine. This compound is normally found and sold in supplements for weight-loss or performance-enhancement.
A Nutritional Supplement with These Compounds May Have Caused Death
There was a study published this past May that examined the possibility that a workout supplement called Jacked Power, which contained BMPEA, cased a hemorrahgic stroke that caused the death of a 53-year old woman in Sweden. In April, the FDA issued a warning letter to five different retailers that ha been selling supplements containing BMPEA.
More Details on the GNC Lawsuit
Oregon’s lawsuit additionally accuses GNC of selling products spiked with BMPEA, specifically their products containing botanical acacia rigidula. According to the statement released by the office of the Attorney General, there are thousands of products sold by GNC that contain picamilon and BMPEA between January of 2013 and May 2015.
GNC, which has 6,500 locations in the United States, has claimed that the accusations made by the Oregon Attorney General are without merit and that the company intends to vigorously defend against these allegations. It proceeded to remove all products under suspicion from the shelves of its stores.
The lawsuit compiles a list of supplements that will be under question. For the list of products containing picamilon, the state of Oregon pinpoints popular supplement Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, manufactured by Prosupps USA. Among the products with BMPEA, the list includes Redline Ultra Hardcore and Meltdown, both by VPX Sports. Craze, from Driven Sports and Fastin DMAA Free by Hi Tech Pharmaceuticals were also on the list.
After new of the lawsuit broke out, GNC’s shares dropped 19% to 31.94, becoming the stock’s 52-week low, though there was a slight increase to $34.50 at market close.
