Louisiana Drugmaker Ordered to Cease Operations

Feb. 23, 2017

U.S. District Judge Robert G. James for the U.S. District Court for the Western District of Louisiana entered a consent decree of permanent injunction against Pick and Pay Inc./Cili Minerals, a manufacturer and distributor of drugs and dietary supplements, and its owner, Anton S. Botha, requiring the business to immediately cease operations until it comes into compliance with federal laws.

The complaint, filed by the U.S. Department of Justice, sought a permanent injunction against the company and its owners for unlawfully manufacturing and distributing unapproved new drugs, misbranded drugs, adulterated dietary supplements and misbranded dietary supplements.

The company and its owner marketed their products online at www.ciliminerals.com, www.cilihealthstore.com and www.cil-ergy.com. They also sold their products through a retail location in Lafayette, Louisiana.

The FDA inspected Pick and Pay Inc./Cili Minerals four times since 2012. The defendants marketed their products with claims that they could treat medical conditions such as cancer, cardiovascular disease, multiple sclerosis, autism, bipolar disorder, brain injury and epilepsy. The FDA has not approved Pick and Pay Inc./Cili Minerals’ drugs for any use.

During the inspection, FDA investigators also found numerous violations of the agency’s current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) regulations for dietary supplements.

Before the company and its owners can resume operations, they must, among other things, recall and destroy their existing stock of drugs and dietary supplements, hire labeling and good manufacturing practices experts, and receive written permission from the FDA to resume operations.