The pharmaceutical giant Solvay Pharmaceuticals is unapologetic about its actions aimed at maintaining its monopoly on the phamaceutical testosterone gel Androgel (an anabolic-androgenic steroid). Solvay has “bought off” generic companies who planned to introduce inexpensive, generic versions of Androgel. The generic companies Watson Pharmaceuticals, Par Pharmaceutical, and Paddock Laboratories were prepared to offer a cheap generic testosterone gel as early as 2006 after the FDA granted Watson final approval for its generic product in January 2006. Solvay paid the generic companies a substantial amount of money to delay their entry into the generic Androgel marketplace until 2015.
The threat of generic competition would have decimated Solvay’s sales of Androgel; AndroGel has been their top-selling product with sales exceeding $300 million in 2006 and $400 million in 2007. Generic competition to Solvay’s flagship product Androgel could reduce the price of testosterone gel as much as 90% when compared to brand name Androgel. The payments to delay entry into the generic marketplace aka “pay-for-delay” settlements would be highly profitable for Solvay by extending brand name patent protection for several years. The windfall profits would come at the expense of consumers and federal taxpayers costing them billions of dollars Read more
Former amateur bodybuilder Jay McGwire, the youngest brother of baseball player Mark McGwire, is fighting for the honor of being the first person to have introduced and injected Mark McGwire with anabolic steroids. The younger McGwire is trying to sell a manuscript entitled “The McGwire Family Secret: The Truth about Steroids, a Slugger, and Ultimate Redemption” that details Mark McGwire’s use of performance enhancing drugs (”Mark McGwire’s One-Eyed Baby Brother Reveals The Not-So-Startling Truth,” January 21).
“Shortly after I won the Contra Costa Bodybuilding Championships in May of 1994, Mark took the plunge. I accompanied him to Sacramento where we met with my supplier and trainer, who explained to him how the different drugs would work on his body and answered a myriad of questions from Mark. Given Mark’s curiosity and lack of knowledge about steroids I saw from Mark, I would be shocked if Mark did something like what Jose Canseco claimed happened back in the early years….[M]ark began to use, but in low dosages so he wouldn’t lift his way out of baseball. Deca-Durabolin helped with his joint problems and recovery, while growth hormone helped his strength, making him leaner in the process. I became the first person to inject him, like most first-timers he couldn’t plunge in the needle himself. Later a girlfriend injected him.”
Jay McGwire seeks to take credit for designing Big Mac’s first steroid cycle that incorporated Deca Durabolin as well as human growth hormone (HGH). Jay McGwire also took credit for introducing his brother to androstenedione shortly after Associated Press reporter Steve Wilstein published the story “Drug OK in Baseball, Not Olympics” announcing the discovery of the legal anabolic steroid supplement in Mark McGwire’s locker in July 1998 Read more
In recognition of World AIDS Day, we urge Congressional leaders in the United States to carefully consider the significant harm that morally-guided U.S. steroid policy has had for the life-saving therapeutic applications offered by anabolic-androgenic steroids. The criminalization of anabolic steroids and steroid hysteria perpetuated by Congressional steroid hearings has had an adverse impact on medical research and medical therapies involving anabolic steroids, particularly in the prevention and treatment of HIV+ associated wasting disease.
Anabolic steroids are one of the safest and most effective treatments for HIV associated wasting and have been invaluable in helping HIV+ patients retain, preserve and restore lean body weight and stay alive. Given that wasting is one of the most common symptoms of HIV and that HIV+ patients with wasting symptoms have significantly higher mortality rates, anabolic steroids have been an invaluable medical treatment.
Michael Mooney, of Medibolics, and Nelson Vergel, of the Program for Wellness Restoration, have spearheaded educational efforts and have extensively documented the benefits of anabolic steroid therapy for AID/HIV wasting in “Built to Survive“. Mooney and Vergel have discussed the negative consequences arising from the demonization of steroids by the Anabolic Steroid Control Act of 1990 Read more
The New Jersey Attorney General’s Office has targeted several unnamed officers from the Trenton Police Department. The State has sent “target” letters to officers suspected of using human growth hormone and/or anabolic steroids; they are being given the option of cooperating, facing a grand jury, or criminal indictment (”Trenton cops served notice that they’re targets of hormone probe,” August 12).
Several police sources, however, said that a handful of cops, some of them ranking officers, have recently received “target” letters asking for their cooperation in the case.
The investigation began with the steroid bust of Florida dentist Dr. Jeffrey Weiser who sold prescriptions for testosterone, human growth hormone (HGH), Deca Durabolin, Winstrol, Oxandrin, Nolvadex and Clomid to bodybuilders on the Internet for $50 per script per medication. Cops from the Trenton Police Department were allegedly clientele of Weiser’s “personal fitness consulting business.”
In 2005, Weiser pleaded guilty to the charges in federal court, and his sales records, seized in the investigation, led to the Trenton officers, according to published reports.
Steven Suarez, a steroid dealer who was busted in April 2008, is thought to be cooperating with authorities in the Trenton cop steroid scandal as well. Read more
Jason Trahan of the Dallas Morning News contacted me today with the autopsy and toxicology results for convicted steroid dealer David Jacobs. The report revealed that David Jacobs was using Deca Durabolin (nandrolone decanoate) and Testosterone when he committed the murder-suicide. This was not a major surprise since authorities discovered a significant quantity of anabolic steroids at his home in June 2008.
Nandrolone, 19-norandrosterone, and 19-noretiocholanolone metabolites were present in the urinalysis; a testosterone:epitestosterone ratio (T:E ratio) revealed a ratio of 22:1 with testosterone glucuronide (TG) and epitestosterone glucuronide (EG) levels of 270 ng/ml and 12.2 mg/ml, respectively. The T:E ratio of 22:1 and the TG level of 270 ng/ml are both putative evidence of exogenous testosterone usage. Read more
When Richard Janeczko, Australian Customs national investigations manager, intercepted 80 kilograms of anabolic steroid powder in Sydney in June 2008, he immediately suspected that Australian Olympic athletes were the intended recipients of these steroids even though absolutely NO link with Australian athletes had been uncovered.
But when Australian Customs intercepted 150 bottle bottles of testosterone and Deca Durabolin disguised as “Gay Lube Oil,” Janeczko was quick to emphasize how unlikely it would be for Australia’s Olympic athletes to use steroids marketed as “Gay Lube Oil” (”Gay lube oil contained banned steroids,” July 30).
“The bulk of the people we investigate are actually not elite sports people. The people that want to enhance their image either gym people, security guards, bikies.”
It is thought that Janeczko believes Australian athletes only use steroids with names like “British Dragon” and “Animal Power” with bulldogs, horses, bulls, dragons (and of course kangaroos) on the labels. Read more
Roberto Pulido (aka Kiko aka Anthony Williams) was an corrupt officer with the Boston Police Department who was involved in various illegal activities including steroid dealing. He regularly imported anabolic steroids such as Winstrol, Dianabol, Deca Durabolin and Testosterone from a Greek source; he ordered them by phone, deposited funds in the source’s U.S. bank account, and received large shipments via common courier at several private homes and businesses on at least five occassions according to court documents. He even advised FBI uncover agents on how to successfully import anabolic steroids from overseas.
Pulido boasted, “the key to mailing shit (steroids) here in this country is you gotta mail it in photo paper. You know the paper, that fucking carbon paper … you buy that paper, you wrap it in that and that’s it. There’s nothing that can get an x-ray through that, and dogs can’t sniff through that.”
Pulido was so corrupt and involved in so many illegal activities that federal prosecutors didn’t even bother with steroid conspiracy or steroid distribution charges. They settled on conspiracy to distribute cocaine and heroin; he escorted trucks bringing at least 140 kilograms of cocaine into Boston with plans to protect shipments of 500 kg on an ongoing basis. He was sentenced to 26 years in prison for this crime.
In this unbelievable police corruption scandal, Pulido and his defense attorney blamed anabolic steroids for his crimes (”Boston officer sentenced to 26 years in drug case,” May 16).
Pulido’s public defender, who said her client’s abuse of steroids contributed to his crimes.
[...]
Pulido said he was pumped full of steroids when he suggested to undercover agents in Atlantic City that he knew a good way to transport cocaine into Boston.
He said a steroid addiction made him exaggerate many of the statements he made on the surveillance tapes and called many of his comments pure fantasy. In his mind at the time, he said, he was playing a role in a Hollywood movie. He even recited lines from “Training Day,” the film about a corrupt officer.
“Anyone who knows me knows that I was acting,” he said. “It was pure puffery.”
Pro-steroid and anti-steroid bloggers have laughed at this preposterous defense.
I will write more about the “steroids made me do it” defense aka dumbbell defense shortly.
I have previously written about how the current climate of steroid hysteria has limited the availability of anabolic steroids for medically indicated purposes. I’ve also posted lists of compounding pharmacies that, in the face of limited availability and increased federal pressure, continue to sell anabolic steroids to patients who have a genuine medical need for them.
Today MESO-Rx has learned that at least one compounding pharmacy has contacted bodybuilding, steroid, and health websites requesting the removal of all references to the company, their website and the (anabolic steroid) product(s) they sell.
I spoke with the chief marketing officer for the compounding pharmacy to find out more information. I was told that the company was concerned about receiving adverse attention from publicity of anabolic steroid sales. The company was adamantly dedicated to only serving the populations (e.g. HIV, wasting) that truly needed steroids for medical purposes. The publication of steroid information in connection with their company could possibly compromise that goal, especially on a bodybuilding and/or steroid-related website.
It seems highly unusual for the chief marketing officer to try and stifle publicity for one of their products. But it is understandable. If they publicize that they sell nandrolone decanoate (for example), then they are likely to attract adverse attention from (1) bodybuilders and athletes seeking steroids for performance enhancement or (2) federal and/or state authorities who may suspect they are selling steroids in a manner similar to what has been alleged in other publicized compounding pharmacy steroid scandal cases.
But if a steroid like Deca Durabolin (nandrolone decanoate) is so difficult to find from a legitimate (compounding) pharmacy AND the (compounding) pharmacies that do sell it do not publicize (and actually prohibit promotion of the) fact, then how will patients (e.g. HIV/AIDS) who really need it for medical reasons be able to find it? And as of this writing, this information is not readily available on Google; the steroid sources for Deca Durabolin are practically all outside the United States (thereby making it illegal for U.S. citizens to purchase even with a valid medical prescription.)
This is not good for patients who need steroids for their health and well-being.
The “war on steroids” in the United States has been highly effective in one regard; it has limited the availability of anabolic steroids for those individuals who use steroids as a matter of medical necessity. Nelson Vergel has written about the problems arising from the nation’s steroid hysteria as it affects the medical applications of steroids. These problems include Watson Pharmaceuticals discontinuation of nandrolone decanoate (Deca Durabolin) and the increasingly limited number of compounding pharmacies that offer nandrolone.
Since nandrolone decanoate is no longer manufacturer by any U.S. pharmaceutical company, it is difficult to find in the United States with availability limited to compounding pharmacies. Members of Vergel’s Yahoo Group PozHealth have researched and identified only five compounding pharmacies nationwide that still offer nandrolone decanoate with a valid medical prescription (and in some cases, additional requirements) ["Nandrolone Prices at Compounding Pharmacies," March 28).
Prices of a 10mL vial Nandrolone Decanoate (200 mg/ml) at Compounding Pharmacies
[NOTE: Pricing and compounding pharmacy has been removed per request. The publication of such information has regrettably caused adverse attention for at least one compounding pharmacy.]
Two other compounding pharmacies have ceased production of nandrolone decanoate due to federal pressure and/or limited availability of the raw materials (Applied Pharmacy Services and Leiter’s Pharmacy, respectively).
We desperately need a rational discussion on anabolics steroids to replace the steroid demonization and steroid hysteria sweeping our country. Legislation and federal actions involving anabolic steroids over the past several years have arguably done nothing to decrease steroid use among professional athletes or high school athletes; the war on steroids has indisputably compromised the available of anabolic steroids for medical purposes in affected populations. This is the real crime.
The supply of pharmaceutical quality nandrolone decanoate by prescription is becoming very limited within the United States. Watson Pharmaceuticals was the only pharmaceutical company producing Deca Durabolin (nandrolone decanoate) in the U.S. It was available by prescription and could be obtained at most pharmacies around the country.
Watson claimed that Deca Durabolin was discontinued in March 2007 because the raw ingredients were no longer available from the FDA-approved supplier of the powder (”AIDS activists upset by dropped wasting drug,” April 19, 2007).
Patricia Eisenhaur, director of investor relations for Watson Pharmaceuticals, confirmed that Deca-Durabolin, also known as nandrolone decanoate, an anabolic steroid prescribed by physicians to combat AIDS wasting, was discontinued on March 20.
According to Eisenhaur, the active ingredient to manufacture the drug was no longer available from the Food and Drug Administration-approved supplier. Eisenhaur was unable to provide the name of the supplier, which was the only approved manufacturer of the active ingredient.
Obviously, those familiar with black market androgens know that there is no nandrolone decanoate powder shortage. Nelson Vergel of the HIV Blog explains the real reasons why Watson discontinued production (”Important information about nandrolone in the U.S.” March 17).
The decision from the manufacturer (Watson) to stop making nandrolone decanoate (an effective injectable medicine to treat unintentional weight loss and to increase muscle mass) was based on economics and political pressure.
Watson stopped making it because:
- It is a generic CHEAP drug
- They can sell expensive Oxandrin instead. Oxandrin is approved for unintentional weight loss but costs $1200 a month and can cause liver toxicity in some.
- Nandrolone’s indication is for anemia and no doctor uses it for that purpose, so they prescribe it legally off label.
- Congress and the DEA are treating anabolics like the treat crack-cocaine and are closely watching every prescriber’s and manufacturer’s move. No HIV doc has ever got in trouble since many studies have shown nandrolone’s benefit and can justify its medical use. However, inexperienced HIV doctors who have not been around long enough to know its history shy away from prescribing due to the bad publicity and misconceptions around these medicines.
Nandrolone decanoate is still available [link removed] from a few compounding pharmacies. However, under extreme federal pressure resulting from the steroids in sports scandals, fewer and fewer compounding pharmacies are willing produce nandrolone medications. As a result, compounding pharmacies are quickly dropping nandrolone decanoate.
Applied Pharmacy stopped all production due to DEA pressure. Some compounders are making doctors sign a waiver to say they will not prescribe nandrolone for non medical uses. Some doctors feel this represents extra liability.
Applied Pharmacy is a compounding pharmacy that provided pharmaceutical quality anabolic steroid and hormone preparations to customers with medical prescriptions. They became the target of a federal probe resulting from prosecutor and political opportunist David Soares’ far reaching steroid scandal investigation. They stopped production of all anabolic steroids as a result.
The Los Angeles Police Department discovered former bodybuilding cosmetic surgeon Bruce Nadler, MD and his wife dead as the result of gunshot wounds on Monday, February 4, 2008. Authorities believe it is an apparent murder-suicide perpetrated by Bruce Nadler.
Bruce Nadler called himself the “world’s strongest plastic surgeon.” He was probably the best known cosmetic surgeon catering to amateur and professional bodybuilders. He had performed over 700 gynecomastia surgeries in his career; “gyno” is a side effect of anabolic steroid use when antiaromatase and/or estrogen antagonists are not use concurrently.
After retiring from the practice of medicine in August 2005, Dr. Nadler, who called himself “the world’s strongest plastic surgeon,” wrote the “The Nip Tuck Workout: Exercise through the Eyes of a Plastic Surgeon” and subsequently moved with his wife to Los Angeles to reinvent himself in a new career as personal trainer with the opening of Nip Tuck Fitness LA in Beverly Hills.
Retired plastic surgeon and certified personal trainer Bruce J. Nadler M.D. has brought his Plastic Synergy training system to Los Angeles. As stated in his book, “The Nip Tuck Workout – Exercise through the Eyes of a Plastic Surgeon,” Dr. Nadler has created an exercise program based on the plastic surgical principles of proportion and symmetry. It combines careful analysis with an individualized exercise prescription.
Bruce Nadler, MD retired after the New York State Board of Professional Medical Conduct charged him with 29 specifications of professional misconduct in thirteen patients according to public records. Rather than fight the charges, Nadler submitted and consent agreement and voluntarily relinquished his medical license.
The specifications of professional misconduct were primarily related to prescribing a variety of anabolic steroids, growth hormone and ancillary medications used by bodybuilders including Saizen, Serostim, Genotropin, Androgel, Depo Testosterone, Delatestryl, Deca Durabolin, testosterone cypionate, testosterone enanthate, Nolvadex, Proscar, Clomid, tamoxifen, Arimidex, Finasteride and Viagra. In each case, he was accused of the following:
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Failure to obtain and/or note an adequate and complete medical history and/or history of current complaint from patient.
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Failure to perform and/or note a complete and appropriate physical examination of patient.
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Failure to obtain and/or note appropriate and medically indicated laboratory studies on patient including: prolactin, TSH, LH, hepatic and renal function, and assays for estrogen levels and HCG.
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Failure to properly diagnose patient’s condition and/or rule out underlying disorders.
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Inappropriately and without medical idnication and/or justification, prescribing and/or maintaining patient on various medications.
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Failure to maintain a medical record for patient in accordance with accepted medical standards which accurately reflects his care and treatment of the patient.
Bruce Nadler’s beliefs regarding anabolic steroids and bodybuilding were controversial for physician. He explained his own steroid use and his willingness to prescribe steroids and growth hormone to his patients in an interview with Testosterone Nation:
I’m my own test laboratory in that respect because, in the last two years, I’ve been taking 6 to 8 IUs a week of growth hormone, and I alternate between 200 mg a week of deca and 200 mg of testosterone cypionate the next week. Instead of going super physiological, I believe in just going to maximum natural levels to that of a man in his twenties. In this way, there are no side effects.
Nadler was also critical of the steroid hysteria in the U.S. and the political posturing surrounding anabolic steroids:
I’ve always felt that politicians always have to make the majority of the electorate think that they’re doing something? So they inconvenience a small, unimportant group, like bodybuilders. They have no idea what they’re talking about. Somebody hands them a speech, and they go! They took something that could have been done safely and sent it to the black market and all of the inherent dangers that go along with dealing with that element. Will they ever be legal again? I hope so.
