NEWARK
– A Mercer County company and a Canadian
pharmacy have settled a lawsuit filed by
the state regarding the sale of prescription
drugs imported from Canada, Attorney General
Anne Milgram and Acting Consumer Affairs
Director Larry DeMarzo announced.
Defendants
Karen Azarchi of Princeton Junction and
her business, Medications4Less, and Canadian
pharmacy Ultra Care Pharmacy Ltd., have
agreed to a $150,000 settlement that requires
them to stop doing business in New Jersey,
under terms of the Consent Order with the
State.
“This
settlement is about protecting the public’s
health and ensuring patient safety,’’
Attorney General Milgram said. “It
is also about our state’s vigilance
in policing businesses operating on the
Internet.’’
The
state filed suit after the Division of Consumer
Affairs conducted an investigation into
the practices of these companies. As alleged
in the state’s six-count complaint,
the defendants processed a prescription
written by a fictitious physician; processed
a prescription written by a physician listed
as being suspended from the practice of
medicine; sold prescription drugs to a patient
who had recently purchased, and disclosed,
that she was currently taking another drug
known to produce dangerous, including fatal,
interactions; and imported prescription
medication in violation of FDA rules and
regulations.
Azarchi,
Medications4Less and Ultra Care agreed that
they will not engage in the advertisement,
solicitation, sale, distribution, dispensing,
filling or refilling of prescription medications
in New Jersey, or to New Jersey residents,
unless and until such actions are authorized
under the law of New Jersey and/or the federal
law of the United States.
Defendants
Azarchi and Medications4lLess, also agreed
to immediately cease operation of the entity
known as Medications4Less, LLC including,
but not limited to, the termination of the
website www.medications4less.com.
The
defendants will pay $115,000, with the remaining
$35,000 penalty suspended, under terms of
the Consent Order.
Ultra
Care agreed that unless and until it becomes
a licensed New Jersey pharmacy, it will
inform any New Jersey resident who attempts
to fill or refill any prescription that
Ultra Care cannot fill or refill prescriptions
for New Jersey residents. Ultra Care must
have a disclaimer on the internet and other
electronic communications that it does not
do business in the State of New Jersey.
“Prescription
medications, when properly prescribed, dispensed
and used, can be of tremendous benefit to
patients,” Acting Director DeMarzo
said. “We want proper oversight to
occur before prescriptions are authorized
and provided to patients.”
The
Division of Consumer Affairs E-Commerce
Investigative Unit conducted the investigation
of the companies. Deputy Attorney General
David Puteska represented the state in resolving
this matter.
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