Maryland Oncologist Pleads Guilty to Importing Misbranded Cancer Drugs
In an FDA report unsealed August 11, 2011, Maryland oncologist Dr. Isabella Martire has pled guilty on charges of introducing a misbranded drug into interstate commerce. Martire purchased cancer drugs not approved or verified by the FDA from a UK-based supplier and gave them to her patients. She then sought reimbursement from health insurers such as Medicare, Medicaid, and both private and federal health insurers. On May 26, 2011, federal agents served a search warrant at Dr. Martire’s office and found several boxes of misbranded drugs purchased from outside the United States. The packaging inserts and box labels were almost entirely in Turkish.
Who: FDA Office of Criminal Investigations.
When: Date of report; August 8, 2011 January 1, 2008-May 18, 2011.
Where: Laurel, Maryland, United States.
How: Investigation conducted by the FDA – Office of Criminal Investigations and the Department of Health and Human Services – Office of Inspector General.
Additional details:The cost savings Dr. Martire realized by purchasing the misbranded drugs was at least $790,600 in 2010.
Related sources:
“ August 8, 2011: Laurel Oncologist Pleads Guilty to Purchasing Misbranded Drugs.,” FDA. 8/8/2011.
“ LAUREL ONCOLOGIST PLEADS GUILTY TO PURCHASING MISBRANDED DRUGS.,” US Department of Justice. 8/8/2011.
“ Doc Saved $790K Using Cancer Drugs Unapproved by FDA ,” NBC Washington. 8/8/2011.