Dubai: The Ministry of Health on Sunday cancelled the registration and circulation of Amzylite, a diabetes medicine, and all similarly named products.
The ministry made the decision after it was discovered that some products in the market — with a similar name — contained a different chemical composition from the one approved by the ministry.
The ministry added that a person, claiming to be the inventor, was widely promoting his creation on the internet and through e-mails, claiming that the medicine can cure diabetes.
Dr Ameen Al Amiri, CEO for Medical Practice and License at the ministry, said in a press release yesterday that the medicine was registered with the ministry in 2006 for a private company.
He added that after coordinating with the Health Authority — Abu Dhabi (Haad), it was found that the company's licence was suspended in 2006.
The original medicine was approved as a digestion-easing enzyme.
He added that it was found that the product currently being traded used a different formula from the one that was previously approved, which is a violation of International Pharmacopoeia and the local system practised in the UAE.
False claims
Al Amiri said that the medicine was also being falsely advertised as a cure for diabetes, despite not being approved by the ministry. He also said that medical products being sold online do not undergo inspections by the Medical Advertisement Department. Al Amiri affirmed that all products named Amzylite have been withdrawn from the market.
He also urged pharmacies and distributors to submit a report on this medicine to the Registration and Drug Control department until a final decision has been made regarding measures that must be taken for stopping the circulation and importation of this medicine.
He added that a circular has been issued to medical practitioners in the country, urging them to carefully diagnose anyone who has already used the drug.
