ouragingbrains

FORGET THE PREVAGEN!

After 7 Years in Federal Court the Verdict is in:

We can all change the channel and happily DISREGARD the claims for this heavily advertised “Healthier Brain” dietary supplement.

THE DISPUTE

Complaint to: UNITED STATES DISTRICT COURT SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW YORK

Filed by: The FEDERAL TRADE COMMISSION and THE PEOPLE OF THE STATE OF NEW YORK

Against Plaintiffs: QUINCY BIOSCIENCE HOLDING COMPANY, INC., PREVAGEN, INC. and others

Citing:

1.)By the Federal Trade Commission:

REPEATED FRAUDULENT OR ILLEGAL ACTS

FALSE OR UNSUBSTANTIATED EFFICACY CLAIMS

FALSE PROOF CLAIMS

2.)VIOLATIONS OF NEW YORK STATE LAW

DECEPTIVE ACTS OR PRACTICES AND FALSE ADVERTISING

      • Prevagen improves memory;

      • Prevagen improves memory within 90 days;

      • Prevagen reduces memory problems associated with aging;

      • Prevagen provides other cognitive benefits, including but not limited to healthy brain function, a sharper mind, and clearer thinking.

CONSUMER INJURY

      • “Consumers have suffered and will continue to suffer substantial injury as a result of Defendants’ violations.

      • In addition, Defendants have been unjustly enriched as a result of their unlawful acts or practices.

      • Absent injunctive relief by this Court, Defendants are likely to continue to injure consumers, reap unjust enrichment, and harm the public interest.”

(https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/documents/cases/quincy_bioscience_complaint-filed_version.pdf)

THE FINDINGS

“The jury found that none of those statements was supported by competent and reliable scientific evidence, and two of them (about reduction of memory problems with aging) were materially misleading. Each of them has a tendency to deceive.”

The “good” news for those misled: “There was no evidence that Prevagen, or the challenged statements, had actually caused harm or economic injury.” Although one might imagine that the three million people estimated to have purchased Prevagen® from its launch in 2007 until 2020 might have had better uses for the money. (https://www.wired.com/story/prevagen-made-millions-fda-questioned-safety/)

(https://www.ftc.gov/system/files/ftc_gov/pdf/quincy_order_and_judgment.pdf

THE FINALE!

From the Director of the Federal Trade Commission’s Bureau of Consumer Protection, December 10, 2024:

“Following seven years of hard-fought litigation, including a jury trial, we are pleased that the Court has ordered Quincy Bioscience to cease making claims about Prevagen that mislead Americans concerned about memory loss. Companies should take note and remember that health claims need to be backed up by reliable scientific evidence.”

(https://www.ftc.gov/news-events/news/press-releases/2024/12/statement-ftcs-win-lawsuit-against-makers-dietary-supplement-prevagen)

AS I HAVE SAID PREVIOUSLY:

“Before trusting your future to jellyfish extract or other medically unsupported remedies, Take the forty-five dollars a month and buy fruit, a gym membership, yoga lessons, or copies of my book for your friends and family.”

FOR MORE ON SUPPLEMENTS:

References:

Apoaequorin (Prevagen) to improve memory. Med Lett Drugs Ther. Nov 1 2021;63(1636):175-176.

Frumkin, K. Aging or Alzheimer’s? A Doctor’s Personal Guide to Memory Loss, Cognitive Decline, and Dementia, Skyhorse Publishing, November 2024. (Chapter 5, Current Treatments for Alzheimer’s Disease)

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