United Kingdom MHRA Warns Against Lipostabil® and Malpractice Insurers Stop Coverage
Phosphatidylcholine-based injections (Lipostabil®) are not approved for cosmetic use in the United Kingdom. Accordingly, the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) has issued a consumer warning stating that the product is being unlawfully advertised for cosmetic fat removal as it has not been assessed in clinical trials for this purpose.
The Medical Protection Society, which provides malpractice coverage in the United Kingdom, withdrew coverage from all United Kingdom physicians using phosphatidylcholine for cosmetic fat removal. The change in policy was based upon the UK Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency's warnings against its use, and represented the first time such a withdrawal in benefits was implemented.
In 2005 the MHRA carried out an investigation into a clinic in the UK because it was illegally advertising, selling and administering Lipostabil. The owner of the clinic was criminally proscuted in April of 2009 and was ordered to pay over 800,000 pounds in fines.
PDF Link: Midland flab jab doctor to face hearing (August 2009)
PDF Link: Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency Q & A (October 2005)
PDF Link: United Kingdom Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (July 2005)
PDF Link: United Kingdom insurers (July 2005)