FDA raids Florida alternative cancer clinics - Shorts - Brief Article

Townsend Letter for Doctors and Patients, Feb-March, 2002 by Jule Klotter

Over 100 agents from the FDA, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the Hillsborough County Sheriff's Office raided the Medical Center for Preventive and Nutritional Medicine's two alternative cancer clinics in Tampa and St. Petersburg, Florida, on October 11, 2001. The agents also raided the home of the clinics' licensed nutrition counselor Joseph DiStefano. Patients' files and Albarin, an, injectable form of aloe vera developed by Ivan Danhof, MD, PhD, were confiscated during the raid.

Dr. Danhof of the North Texas Research Laboratory (Grand Prairie, Texas) is a recognized authority on the medicinal uses of the aloe vera plant. Albarin consists of very large particles of the mucilaginous polysaccharide molecules found in aloe vera. These particles, containing up to 9000 molecules, are obtained via a patented freeze drying process that inactivates the plant's enzymes. A compounding pharmacist turns the resulting powder into an intravenous substance. Dr. Danhof had filed an application for an IND (investigational new drug) with the FDA, and Mr. DiStefano and his associate Daniel Mayer, DO, were providing data on Albarin and its effect on prostate cancer pain for the FDA application when the raid occurred.

Dr. Danhof says that the healing applications of the aloe vera polysaccharide vary according to the size of the particles. Small particles of 60-600 molecules reduce inflammation and are helpful in treating ulcerative colitis, arthritis, and gastric reflux. Medium-sized particles of 600-1500 molecules are effective intracellular antioxidants, making them useful for preventing and treating cardiovascular disease and Parkinson's. Large particles of 1500-5000 molecules have an anti-bacterial and anti-viral effect. The very large particles found in Albarin are immune modulating and also incite the production of a natural chemical in the body that shuts off blood supply to tumors.

Joseph DiStefano used Albarin successfully to treat his own cancer before he and Dr. Mayer began offering it to hospice patients who were expected to live only 2-3 months. According to a report by John Hammell, President of the International Advocates for Health Freedom, 94 out of the first 100 patients to receive Albarin went into remission ("...Joe only lost 6 out of 100 of them"). Mr. DiStefano and Dr. Mayer charged a flat fee of $1100 for the Albarin treatment, regardless of how many injections a patient might need; and no one was refused treatment because of lack of money. Mr. Hammell notes that just one week of chemotherapy treatment often costs more than they were charging for Albarin. At the time of the raid, 80% of the patients receiving Albarin were reportedly in remission. Since the treatment is no longer available, many patients fear that the cancer will return. Complaints that led to the raid were believed to come from local oncologists.

Mr. Hammell asks people to contact their Congressional Representatives and Senators and request an oversight hearing of the FDA and the immediate return of the clinic's Albarin so that patients can resume treatment. The Capital Switchboard phone number is 202-225-3121. He also requests "badly needed donations for the legal fund for the Medical Center for Preventive and Nutritional Medicine." Checks can be sent to Freedom of Health Choice Defense Fund, do 1266 Winding Branch Circle, Dunwoody, GA 30338-3936. John Hammell writes: "If the FDA succeeds in this outrageous effort to suppress patient's access to Albarin, consumers may never again have access to any unapproved treatment they may wish to use, no matter how good it may be."

"FDA Terrorists Raid Florida Alternative Clinics-Treatment Blocked-Lives Jeopardized" by John C. Hammell, President, International Advocates for Health Freedom, PO ox 625, Floyd, VA 24091; phone 800-333-2553; www.iahf.com.