The U.S. government said it will begin removing products from the market that make unproven claims to treat, cure, or prevent sexually transmitted diseases.
The U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and the Federal Trade Commission (FTC) jointly issued letters to several companies warning that their products violate federal law because they have not been evaluated by the FDA.
Among the products targeted in this joint effort are treatments for herpes, chlamydia, genital warts and HIV including Medavir, Herpaflor, Viruxo, C-Cure, and Never An Outbreak.
"These products are dangerous because they are targeted to patients with serious conditions, where treatment options proven to be safe and effective are available," said Deborah M. Autor, director of the Office of Compliance in FDA's Center for Drug Evaluation and Research.
"Consumers who buy these products may not seek the medical attention they need and could spread infections to sexual partners."
Federal authorities reiterated that there are no over-the-counter treatments for sexually transmitted diseases.
The companies who received warning letters have 15 days to notify federal authorities that they are correcting the violations or they could face legal action.
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