20 New Counts Filed in Drug Dilution Case
A wealthy pharmacist was indicted Thursday on 20 new counts of mislabeling and tampering with potentially lifesaving chemotherapy drugs.
Investigators said samples they tested contained generally less than half of the drugs prescribed, and one chemotherapy mixture was nearly pure saline.
The indictment charges Robert R. Courtney with eight counts of tampering with consumer products, six counts of adulteration of a drug and six counts of misbranding a drug.
The charges replace a single felony count made Aug. 14, charging Courtney with diluting the expensive cancer drugs Taxol and Gemzar. Authorities say Courtney, who allegedly saved hundreds of dollars per dose, was motivated by profit and $600,000 in looming tax bills. He has assets estimated at $10 million.
Prosecutors have said they believe Courtney may have diluted at least 150 intravenous bags for chemotherapy patients.
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