Los Angeles Times

A February 2011 L.A. Times article reports that about 2,000 prescription drugs are being sold without the FDA’s approval.

• “‘We don’t know what’s in them. We don’t know how they work. We don’t know how they’re made,’ said Michael Levy, director of the FDA’s division of New Drugs and Labeling Compliance.”
• “The initiative to deal with unapproved drugs has drawn particular support from health groups representing minorities, some of whom have lower incomes and higher rates of uninsurance, which could make them more likely to receive the unapproved medications, which are usually cheaper.”

“FDA Struggles to keep unapproved drugs off the market”