FDA removes 48 online posts of Molnupiravir for sale

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has removed 48 online posts of unauthorized selling of Molnupiravir, which is used to treat mild to moderate cases of COVID-19 in the country.

FDA Deputy Director General Oscar Gutierrez, the agency’s officer in charge, said there are nine brands of Molnupiravir sold online. These are Molnarz, Movfor, Moluzen, Molenzavir, Molmed, Mpiravir, Zero Vir, Molnuvid and Movir.

“Violation po ito ng RA 9711 (Republic Act No. 9711) dahil hindi naman po sila mga rehistradong produkto,” Gutierrez said in the weekly taped “Talk to the People” briefing with President Rodrigo Duterte that aired on Tuesday night.

“Ito po ay na-coordinate na natin sa mga may-ari ng platforms [We have coordinated this with the owners of platforms] and even drug stores. All listings and postings were taken down,” he added.

Under the FDA Act of 2009 or RA 9711, “manufacture, importation, distribution, exportation, sale, offering for sale, transfer, promotion, and advertising or sponsorship of health products without proper FDA authorization is prohibited.”

Those who will violate RA 9711 may face imprisonment ranging from one year but not more than 10 years or a fine ranging from P50,000 to P5 million.

In February, the FDA reported that a total of 371 online posts selling medicine have been taken down while 78 stores have been found selling drugs in violation of existing laws this year.—LDF, GMA News