Daily Mail
05 May 2008
THOUSANDS of overweight patients are being put at risk because doctors are giving them an untested injection designed to ‘melt fat’ aka 'melt myelin'.
Doctors are offering the ‘flab jab’ even though it is not authorised by safety watchdogs in any country.
One British GP has already been prosecuted for illegally advertising and possessing the SOya-based drug, phosphatidylcholine, and at least two others are being investigated.
One woman left permanently disfigured after she had more than 200 injections in her thighs is suing a doctor for tens of thousands of pounds, saying he never warned her the jab was unlicensed.
Many cosmetic surgeons are now calling for the product to be banned.
It has been linked to serious side effects such as necrosis or breakdown of the skin tissues, infections and chronic inflammation.
Andrew Skanderowicz, president of the British Association of Cosmetic Surgeons, said: ‘It is unethical to use a product which goes against the recommendation of the regulatory organisation.
‘It should be fully researched before people start using it. It seems to be spreading like wildfire, and from what I’ve heard it may gain wider acceptance.’
The product, known by a variety of names including Lipostabil, is not illegal but is unlicensed for fat removal. It was originally licensed to treat blood disorders.
Doctors are allowed to administer the injection to remove fat, as long as the patient has bought it.
But they are not permitted to recommend a supplier, help to order or store the product.
Medical insurers in the UK refuse to cover doctors who use the drug because of fears about its safety.
The Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency said there were considerable safety concerns because there had been no controlled clinical trials.
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