Use of substitute for Botox is alleged
Patients of a West Hollywood dermatologist became unwitting guinea pigs for an experimental drug when the doctor began secretly injecting them with an unapproved substitute for Botox, federal authorities allege.
Dr. David Cary Hansen was indicted Wednesday by a federal grand jury in Los Angeles in connection with an alleged scheme to treat patients with an experimental form of the popular wrinkle reducer that was labeled “Not for Human Use.” The substitute drug has been found to cause botulism when given in high doses, prosecutors said.
Hansen, who was arrested early Thursday, is accused of purchasing at least a dozen vials of Botulinum Type A from a company in Arizona in 2003 and 2004. The vials were marked “For Research Purposes Only,” according to prosecutors.
Prosecutors allege that Hansen used the experimental -- and cheaper -- drug on patients in his Skinsation clinic, “while falsely advising them that he was injecting them with Botox.”
Hansen, 52, is charged with mail fraud and several other offenses related to use of a misbranded drug. He faces up to 60 years in federal prison and $600,000 in fines if convicted of all charges, authorities said. He was released on $50,000 bail and ordered to return to court Jan. 12, according to a City News Service report.
Hansen had his medical license suspended for 60 days in 2008 for rendering excessive treatment to four patients, records show.
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