Chinese Herbs Victims

Arkopharma 's founder, ex-CEO and current supervisory board chairman sentenced for unintentional homicides

2008-04-04T04:13:00.000-07:00

Last wednesday april the 2nd, french Cour de Cassation rejected the appeal made by Max Rombi, former ex-CEO, founder and chairman of the supervisory board of Arkopharma (aka Health From The Sun). This rejection confirms Max Rombi sentenced to serve two years in jail for unintentional homicides.

Reminder of the facts
In 2005, Max Rombi was sentenced for unintentional homicides in relation to the death of two young women whom having absorbded asiatitrats pills, containing toxic chinese herbs imported by Arkopharma without control of any kind, developed chronic kidney failure and ovarian cancer. The sentence was confirmed one year later by Aix-en-Provence french cour of appeal which Arkopharma 's founder, ex-CEO and current supervisory board chairman appealed again in a last resort. That last resort was rejected making finally mandatory Max Rombi 's imprisonment.

Complementary facts
In a similar case, where two young women developed chronic kidney failure after absorbing the very same asiatitrats pills, Max Rombi was only charged for fraud and misleading advertisement and not recognised guilty of unintentional injuries.

Reflexion
Besides the lack of severity of the sentence considering the gravity of the fact, it is absolutely astonishing and disgraceful to observe french justice finds Max Rombi guilty in one case and not in the other despite of the striking similarity (same pills: asiatitrats, same deceases: chronic kidney failure).

IF YOU'RE AWARE OF ANY OTHER PROCEDURE, SO JUSTICE CAN BE DONE, OR IF YOU LOST YOUR KIDNEYS AFTER HAVING ABSORBED CHINESE HERBS PILLS OR IF YOU KNOW SOMEBODY WHO DID OR IN SUPPORT TO THE VICTIMES, PLEASE DO NOT HESITATE TO LEAVE YOUR COMMENT. PLEASE HELP US. THANK YOU.

What happened since may 2007?

2008-04-02T12:42:00.000-07:00

Following the shameful sentence of the Appeal Court of Toulouse (France), one of the victims decided to go to the "cour de cassation" (the other victim couldn't do it as she was not informed in time to do so). A report was being constituted when Max Rombi decided to withdraw and according to french law that means the case is over with no additional action possible.

It is disgraceful to observe justice cannot follow its path because of the reaction of Max Rombi (ex-CEO founder and current president of the supervisory board of Arkopharma) when some of the products manufactured by his firm are involved in deceases, sicknesses including nephropathies and cancers.

If you are aware of any addtional action that can be taken so justice can be done, please do not hesitate to let us know by leaving your comment below. Thank you.

Max Rombi condemned for fraud and...

2007-05-29T05:06:00.000-07:00

...discharged of unintentional injuries. Rubbish! Furthermore the Appeal Court of Toulouse (France) reduced the penalty from €15,000 to €12,500 for both victims who developed nephropathies and lost their kidneys after having consumed Arkopharma's asiatitrat pills. There's no longer need for hiding the hand when an offender throws a stone. The tribunal will hide it for him. And why not giving him the stone to throw? After all there's a lot of money to make out of it! Because by letting Max Rombi, Arkopharma and the pharmacist go there will be more victims, more suffering that people supposed to serve and protect have delibarately let go through the net of justice. Thus why after 14 years of procedure the general attorney didn't require an exemplary sentence against Arkopharma's boss Max Rombi and Jean-Bruno Maury the pharmacist? It really stinks! Once more what are the victims complaining about? Really what for?

Case of the asiatitrats (Toulouse, France) : Appeal Court's verdict next May 24th 2007

2007-03-27T03:23:00.000-07:00

Last Thursday March the 22nd 2007 session at Toulouse (France)'s 3rd Correctionnal Appeal Court, in relation to the prosecution of Max Rombi, ex-CEO and founder and current supervisory board chairman of Arkopharma (aka Health From The Sun ) accused of "unintentional" injuries and fraud, evolved more dynamically than April 19th 2006 session which concluded with the shameful discharge of Max Rombi.

Interrogated by the Jury's President, Max Rombi said that in despite of the doubt regarding the chinese herbs and following Arkopharma's principal pharmacist and Arkopharma's chemist chief, who are not skilled in Traditional Chinese Medecine at all, and for who the powders(1) apparently didn't constitute a danger for health, he decided to launch the commercialization of the asiatitrats without even waiting for expert feedback from Professor Paul But(2) of University of Hong Kong. Where is the unintentionality there? In a quick move to justify his decision, Max Rombi also added asiatitrats never were very profitable for Arkopharma (3)... What about human lives? The victims had to pay an expensive price and still paying for Max Rombi and Arkopharma 's money appetite gambling with millions of innocent human lives!

The pharmacist of Toulouse (France), Jean-Bruno Maury, reckogned having bought Arkopharma's powders(1) and also reckogned having sold circ. 450kg of "medecine" without really knowing what was inside in his blind and irresponsible trust in his pal Max Rombi.

In relation to the expertise file, the prosecution remarked there was no reason for it to be ignored whereas Nice (France)'s Correctionnal Tribunal and Aix-en-Provence (France) Appeal's Court retained it sentencing Max Rombi to serve two years in jail and €45.000 of penalty for "unintentional" manslaughter. The prosecution also remarked that in despite of the queries for multiple expertises these queries never where taken into account and deplored the doubtuous time taken for the procedure that started circ. 17 years now.

The verdict is scheduled for next Thursday May the 24th 2007.

(1) According to a Louisville Clinic of Traditional Chinese Medecine expert (...) instead of an aqueous extract (water decoction), the whole herb was administered. Water decoction is the principle method of preparation in traditional Chinese herbal medicine because toxic constituents are so seldom water-soluble.(...)

(2) On June the 12th 2004, discussing toxicological aspects of Traditional Chinese Medecine, Pr. Paul But (Chinese University of Hong Kong) said that publicity over the past 10 years about the nephrotoxicity of TCM materials containing aristolochic acid had unfortunately resulted in the introduction of the term “Chinese herb nephrology". Professor But also emphasised that quality control, training of suppliers and the provision of more information about the medicines could all help reduce the risk of toxic events occurring. (src: http://www.pjonline.com/Editorial/20040724/forum/forum_tcm.html)

(3) Phytotherapy Arkopharma's poorest activity? According to latest Arkopharma's annual reports, phytotherapy activity represents more than 55% of Arkopharma's turnover. Let's remind also Arkopharma's asiatitrats were advertised as a "weight-loss" product and as the article published in french magazine Le Point last august 17th 2006, "Charlatans of the Thinness", in which Max Rombi and Arkopharma are mentioned, states "weight-loss" products represent 30% of food complements turnover with Health From the Sun 's 4-3-2-1 diet as locomotive and its 12% market share. Among all its products, those of the "slimming" (or "weight loss") range are those who always contributed the most to Arkopharma (aka Health from the Sun) 's turnover.

What are the victims complaining about?

2007-01-16T01:43:00.001-08:00

Of almost nothing! Seeking a solution to lose weight they find asiatitrats arkocapsules from Arkopharma which, sold in drugstores without proper license, are announced as remedies helping to lose weight whereas what the victims will lose will be their kidneys. For some even their lives...

The kidneys destroyed, the victims survive thanks to the work of the healthcare professionals which methods must be to the level of the poison inflected by Arkopharma's asiatitrats and therefore strong enough to compensate missing vital functions to the best. Non transplanted victims have access to dialysis to eliminate toxins that accumulate in their organism and to maintain the balance of the water and the composition of the blood. Transplanted victims use a complete set of anti-rejection medecines which side effects comprise increased risk of cancer, osteoporosis, arterial hypertension, gengivitis, abnormal hair growth, alopetia, increased level of sugar in the blood, increased level of cholesterol, fatigue, etc. These are the first consequences non-directly linked to the absorption of Arkopharma's asiatitrats arkocapsules.

Because anti-rejection drugs block immunity defenses to minimize the risks of rejection, the victims are very exposed to infections and ilnesses risks. The victims health is not the only factor that has been seriously undermined. But also life quality has been considerably reduced considering the victims are subject to countless privations due to the stricts conditions of the medication. Thus the victims know they're strongly advised to avoid sun exposure. So long for the summer holidays at the seaside...

Profesional and financial difficulties are other consequences non-directly linked to the absorption of Arkopharma's asiatitrats. Jobs choices are limited. Because of their fatigue, victims have to take care to pick up, when they have the choice, a non-fulltime professional activity not physically constraining. No wonder why victims also suffer from professional discrimination. Getting a job is much more difficult for the victims. This is not without financial consequences which accentuates even more financial discriminations they're... victims of! Difficulties to get credits - needless to say mortgages - , expensive insurances policies, etc.

The victim is not the only one undermined but also all the family of the victim. The well being of the "home" has been dramatically disturbed as a non-direct consequence of the absorption of Arkopharma's asiatitrats arkocapsules. Two years of jail sentence and €45.000 for "unintentional" manslaughters will never bring back a mum to her little kids and a wife to a husband and cannot even be credited as "financial compensation". A penalty of €30.000 for fraud and misleading advertisement to Max Rombi - Arkopharma's ex-CEO and founder and current chairman of the supervisory board - who's well known of the french courts - and a discharge of "unintentional" injuries is nothing but a sick joke!

So what are the victims complaining about?

Arkopharma's ex-CEO, founder & current chairman of the supervisory board - Max Rombi - sentenced for unintentional homicides

2006-11-14T06:23:00.000-08:00

Aix-en-provence (France) Appel Court has pronounced an attenuated confirmation of Nice (France)'s Correctional Tribunal's sentence of November the 17th 2005. Max Rombi - Arkopharma's founder and ex-CEO and current chairman of the supervisory board - has been sentenced to serve two years in jail instead of the three initially sentenced and to a maximum penalty of €45,000 for unintentional homicides.

Reminder of the facts

In November 2000, short after Regine Crispino's decease at 40years old following a urinal cancer, Nice (France)'s tribunal opens a case. One year later another young woman, Valerie Jouffret, dies aged 34 of a similar pathology. Both victims did follow in the early 90's a diet involving asiatitrats arkocapsules comercialized by Arkopharma (aka Health From The Sun ) without any official market licence. Asiatitrats pills were announced by Arkopharma as having "weight-loss" properties. However none of the chinese herbs involved don't seem to be used in traditional chinese medecine in preparations for "weight loss" purposes. Furthermore one of the herbs - aristolochia fang ji - is known to be a carcerigen agent. Arkopharma imported circ. 750kg of aristolochia fang ji for its asiatitrats capsules. In France around 2,000 women were exposed and even more in Belgium where 1.5 millio pills were sold.

Reflexion

Mr Rombi is well known of french courts and has been repeatedly condemned for the same charges. Charges in-crescendo considering the homicides... In despite of that he's still chairman of the supervisory board and majority shareholder of Arkopharma (aka Health From The Sun) a company that still commercializing bogus products such as NTB cigarettes.

Sept. the 17th 1990 - Fined for FF15,000 for selling pharmaceutical specialities without official market licence and illicite advertisement in favour of those products.
Sept. the 5th 1995 - Fined for FF15,000 for commercialisation of a medecine without official market licence.
Dec. the 7th 1995 - Fined for FF130,000 including FF50,000 for fraud, misleading advertisement, commercialization of pharmaceutical specialities without official market licence, selling secret remedies and infractions to the rules in relation with medecine advertisement.
1998 - Sentenced for fraud and misleading advertisement. Mr Rombi avait commercialized another diet product - Bio 2000 - without any legal notices.
July the 5th 2006 - Sentenced for fraud and misleading advertisement for the asiatitrats (sentence appealed)
November the 13th 2006 - Sentenced for "unintentional" homicides.

Case of the asiatitrat (Nice, France) : Appeal verdict scheduled for next Monday November the 13th

2006-11-07T11:41:00.000-08:00

Aix-en-Provence Appeal Court's verdict following last september the 18th session is due for next monday november the 13th. Last september the 18th the General Procurer required the confirmation of the sentence pronounced one year earlier in Nice (3 years in jail for unintentional homicides and a fine of €30.000) against Max Rombi, ex-CEO founder and current president of the supervisory board of Arkopharma. This verdict is specially important considering the sentence pronounced by the Correctional Tribunal of Toulouse (France) absolving Max Rombi of the charges of unintentional injuries on two young victims whom absorbed asiatitrats pills.

Desperately seeking scapegoat

2006-10-30T14:31:00.000-08:00

In a desperate attempt to feed the polemica of the cause-to-effect link and in the line of his policy of denial and no-assumption of responsability, Max Rombi - ex-CEO founder and current chairman of the supervisory board of Arkopharma - has found a new scapegoat called "Isomeride". Indeed, according to Max Rombi the combination of isomeride with the asiatitrats arkocapsules is the one to blaim for the kidney failures, cancers and deceases. In other words ALL the victims have absorded isomeride! Therefore one has also to look at the pharmaceutical laboratory which made and commercialized isomeride...

However:

1) Statistically the probability of having all the victims having absorbed isomeride along with asiatitrats arkocapsules is so low that it makes it practically impossible unless other "ingredients" were contained in the arkocapsules along with the chinese herbs involved...
2) Isomeride is responsible for having caused pulmonary arterial hypertension and cardiac valvulopathy to its victims whereas asiatitrats victims have developed kidney failures (followed by cancers and deceases in the most unfortunate of these).

Interesting. Max Rombi feeds a polemica to mask an embarrassing link taking advantage of the incrimination of a widely known "weight loss" product while discharging the responsability for his faults and Arkopharma's on a competing company that manufactured and commercialized that product...

[about isomeride]

Case of the asiatitrat (Nice, France) : Appeal next Monday September the 18th

2006-09-17T03:03:00.000-07:00

The seance for the judgement in appeal of Max Rombi - Arkopharma 's ex-CEO and founder and current chairman of the supervisory board - will be hold next Monday September the 18th 2006 at the correctionnal chamber number7 of Aix-en-Provence (France) Court of Appeal. Let's remind that Max Rombi was condemned to serve 2 years in jail with suspended sentence and a fine for 20,000 euros for "unintentional" homicides by Nice (France) Correctionnal Tribunal in October 2005. Nice (France)'s Correctionnal Tribunal then ackowledged the link of cause-to-effect between the absorption of the arkocapsules and the death of Valerie Jouffret (33 years old, mother of 3 young children aged 8 to 11) and Regine Crispino (40 years old), link of cause-to-effect that Max Rombi and his company Arkopharma are systematically denying...

This event is quite important considering last July the 5th 2006 Toulouse (France) Correctional Tribunal's sentence to discharge Max Rombi for the charges of "unintentional" injuries on two young women - then aged 21 and 23 - who lost their kidneys following the absorption of arkocapsules asiatitrat (commercialized by Arkopharma as a "weight-loss" medecine)...

While Max Rombi - which family is still Arkopharma's majority shareholder and who's still Arkopharma's supervisory board chairman - is not put behind bars, and while the french justice will fail to set Arkopharma in front of responsablities the company's still refusing to assume, there will be more victims worldwide of poisons commercialized by Arkopharma (aka Health From the Sun aka Nature Life aka Arkochim...) under the fraudulent and misleading labels and marketing campaigns...

Do we have to remind that exolise commercialized years after asiatitrat by Arkopharma is responsible for hepatitis on consumers? Do we have to remind that in 1998 Max Rombi has been already condemned for fraud and misleading advertisement for another "weight-loss" product called Bio 2000? More recently, the famous Arkopharma's NTB ciragettes to quit smoking- for whose the chairman of the french tabagism office states "this product sold in drugstores(...) looks inoffensive when it's actually toxic" - has been withdrawn of the spanish market since Spanish Health Ministry consider its purpose not good for health whereas Arkopharma's commercialize it stating "good for health"!

Lets hope then french media will cover the event as it must be instead of remaining curiously mute on this case. Let's hope that once for all the sentence Max Rombi will be condemned to will be to the measure of the damage he has caused and the suffering is still infliging to the victims and their families. Finally let's hope Arkopharma will get the publicity it really deserves to have worldwide.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

We're reproducing below traductions of extracts eloquent enough of JCJ's - husband of a deceased victim - moving testimony (Thank you JCJ).

(...)In 1st instance Nice (France) Correctionnal Tribunal overpassed the Republic Procuror's requisitions (50% majoration) and condemned Max Rombi of Arkopharma to serve 3 years in jail with suspended sentence and 30,000 euros of penalty and Jean-Paul Gallon the nicean pharmacist who delivered the products to 12 months in jail with suspended sentence. (Seance 10/05/2005, Judgement 11/17/2005)

These light sentences in comparison to the gravity of the facts will never be severe enough for the loss of a spouse, mother, daughter, who was only aged 33. Her 3 daughters who were then aged 11years1/2, 11years1/2 and 8years1/2 will never cease to suffer for the absence of their mum.

Furthermore one can only be revolted at how Arkopharma expressed its compassion for the suffering of the victims'families. Indeed Arkopharma didn't did it spontaneouly but only after the reprimand done by one of the civic parties representing the consumers. One can call that "recuperation of arguments" to have "good conscience"...

At last it's disgraceful that Arkopharma wanted to sow confusion leading a polemica in relation to the cause-to-effect link in despite of legists and experts reports named by the Tribunal which acknowledged the link undoubtedly. French, Belgian and German legal experts studied and analyzed more than 100 samples taken on each deceased victim during an autopsy that lasted 7 hours against the defense of Max Rombi and his company Arkopharma. Should I havn't accepted the autopsy for my beloved wife Valerie, I'd never would have have the certainty for the cause of the renal ilness and then for the decease.(...)

A new preface for "The XXL Syndrome"?

2006-08-25T04:42:00.000-07:00

Extrait Le Point 08/17/2006 's article "Charlatans of the thinness".

(...)In July, the European leader of the medicinal plants, Arkopharma, found himself with the dock. Its former chairman [ml: founder, majority shareholder and current chairman of the board of trustees], Max Rombi, was condemned to 30.000 euros of fine for “fraud” by the correctional court of Toulouse. It is after having consumed capsules containing powder of Chinese plants provided by Arkopharma that two women from Toulouse (France) developed since 1993 an irreversible renal insufficiency. The laboratory, which ensures to have carried out all possible controls, rejects the fault on its Chinese supplier. The case will be judged again soon in appeal. Just like that which carried out in November 2005 the ex-owner of Arkopharma in front of the correctional court of Nice. This time, two women from Nice (France) had died of the continuations of a cancer of the urinary tracts following the consumption of capsules containing roots imported by Arkopharma. Max Rombi, which refuses to believe that its capsules could start cancers, has been sentenced to serve three years in jail with deferment for manslaughter. As many dramatic accidents which do not discourage the candidates with the loss of weight. The slimming products indeed account for 30% of the sales turnover of the food complements, with, like engine, 4,3,2,1 Thinness, of Arkopharma, and its 12% of shares of market. (...)

Comment:
The article also mentions there's been neurological and cardiac problems in two women one of whom is deceased due to the consumption of ephedra (Ma Huang). Now at least six of the asiatitrats contained ephedra sinica (Ma Huang). Apparently Arkopharma 's US subsidary - aka Health From The Sun - still commercializing ephedra (see its 4.3.2.1 Diet products).

To read the article please click here.

Uneasiness

2006-08-16T06:30:00.000-07:00

As we're leaving messages in forums we can see comments such as "That was in the early 90's...", "Those arkocapsules are not sold any longer...", "Arkopharma is a huge company internationnally respected...", "Mr Rombi is the one responsible, not Arkopharma...". Sentences that terribly show how much their authors don't feel concerned. After all while it doesn't happen to them...

The thing is some Arkopharma products lots are regularly and discretely removed from the market cautiously as not to make waves (see recent list from the French agency for sanitary safety). Before asiatitrat was withdrawn there were victims already. It's not because a product is withdrawn from the french market that it's withdrawn from the foreign ones. And when it's finally removed it's always after a non-negligeable laps of time. Arkopharma expanded not due to its "fame" but as part of a strategic economic international growth. Sure the firm makes 47% of its turnover out of France but are the consumers and potential consumers of its products well informed when products lots are withdrawn when they are and what for? Do they know some arkocapsules are responsible for serious health damages including death of women? Do they know herbs used in those arkocapsules do not have the properties claimed by Arkopharma? Do they know Max Rombi - then Arkopharma's CEO and founder and current chairman of the supervisory board - has been condemned for fraud and misleading advertisement for a product other than asiatitrat? At last would the authors of those comments trust a company which supporting its ex-CEO and founder and current chairman of its supervisory board doesn't seem to have retained its lesson by not acknowledging its mistakes - and therefore not assuming its responsabilities for the products involved and the firm has commercialized - and which unique defense policy consists in the systematical denial of facts in despite of overwhelming reports?

Once again we're inviting the authors of those comments to read our previous posts and articles, and we're still encouraging our readers to leave any comment they might have in our blog. We hope our readers we'll realize this is a problem that concerns all of us at last. In their constant fight for justice the victims will always be disadvantaged without such take of conscience and hence without the support of the public opinion in front of Max Rombi ex-CEO founder and current chairman of the supervisory board of Arkopharma, which realizes an annual turnover of approx. 230 millions euros, company that is still supporting him and which majority of shares is owned by the Rombi family.

Prevention Better Than Cure

2006-08-07T08:41:00.000-07:00

In some forums and blogs we've seen how people looking to lose weight orientate themselves to Arkopharma products with lots withdrawn from the market. For the purpose of sparing complications similar to the asiatitrat victims' we're leaving posts and comments in those forums and blogs briefly introducing the terrible experience the women whom have absorded asiatitrat arkocapsules in their hope to lose weight are going through. What more could we possibly do? If only those women had received such warning notice before absorbing those damn capsules...

"All animals are equals, but some animals are more equal than others" (G. Orwell - "Animal Farm")

2006-07-28T15:49:00.000-07:00

To date Max Rombi - Arkopharma's ex-CEO and founder and current chairman of the supervisory board - of which he has ensured the transfer of 5,992,696 shares in february 2005 to its family holding Imarko - is still pursued for "unintentional" homicides and injuries, misleading advertising and frauds. He's already exploited a juridic void by importing herbs not traditionally used in french drugs preparations and which effects were known in their country of origin and which are not even traditionally used for the purpose of weight-loss as advertised by Arkopharma for their asiatitrat pills. As if this wasn't enough, the sentences pronounced by the french correctional courts are ridiculously "light" considering the gravity of the offences. And as a cherry on top of the cake, Max Rombi and Arkopharma still denying the facts and not assuming their responsabilities and have appealed the correctional courts sentences. He's still participating in conferences and states (...)people must always be educated so they can handle their health(...). Indeed - with its company Arkopharma and its asiatitrat - that is an amazing example of philantropy Max Rombi gives us all!

Max Rombi is found guily of the charge of fraud but found not guilty of the charge of "unintentional" injuries by Toulouse (France) correctional court on July the 5th 2006.
In October 2005 he's sentenced to serve 2 years in jail and to a penalty of 20,000 euros for "unintentional" homicides by Nice (France) correctional court.
In 1998 Max Rombi is found guilty of the charges of misleading advertising and fraud. He had commercialized another "weight-loss" product, Bio 2000, without labelling legal notices.

Pills to lose weight containing plants not traditionnally used for weight-loss purposes

2006-07-25T21:30:00.000-07:00

Asiatitrat pills were supposed to contain Han Fang Ji (Stephania Tetrandra) for its hypothetical "weight-loss" effects. Hang Fang Ji (Stephania Tetrandra) was substituted with Guang Fang Ji (Aristolochia Fang Ji). Now according to the article "Aristolochia and Your Health" available at Louisville Traditional Chinese Medicine website, Han Fang Ji (Stephania tetrandra) is not traditionally used, alone or in combination, for the purpose of weight loss. The author also says (...)Guang Fang Ji (Aristolochia fangji) is never a traditional nor an appropriate choice for purposes of weight loss.(...) Furthermore (...)all of the herbs in question belong to the "Drain Dampness" category of Chinese herbs, which are traditionally contraindicated for long-term use. ... Guang Fang Ji (Aristolochia fangji) is the only crude herb commonly encountered in the West containing aristolochic acid, and distributors have voluntarily removed this herb from their catalogs. (...) [BTW the World Health Organization's International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has identified aristolochic acid as a carcinogenic agent] In other words Han Fang Ji (Stephania Tetrandra) and Guang Fang Ji (Aristolochia Fang Ji) are not traditionally used, alone or in combination, for the purpose of weight loss in traditional chinese medicine. This didn't prevent Max Rombi - Arkopharma's ex-CEO and founder - from importing these herbs which effects were and are still known at least in their country of origin exploiting a juridic void in the french law. The article also refers to other "ingredients" such as amphetamines, laxatives, diuretics and tranquilizers involved in preparations. Therefore did asiatitrat pills contain one or more of these compounds which interaction with the chinese herbs extracts...? Were the packages containing Arkopharma's asiatitrat pills properly labelled (ingredients, posology, indications, side-effects, etc.)? That's the less to expect from products officially recognised as drugs in 1986...

Another Pangloss on the run...

2006-07-19T20:30:00.000-07:00

If new pawns are moved by Max Rombi and Arkopharma to feed such polemica, nevertheless strict control procedures along with in-depth traditional chinese medicine was and is still mandatory when dealing with chinese herbs. If - as Max Rombi should know as a (...)veterinary fond of phytotherapy(...) - one cannot prepare and sell to the public drugs without a licence as a General Practitioner (GP) cannot practice without being a member of the General Medical Council (GMC), can on handle compounds not traditionnally used in western drugs preparations without an in-depth knowledge of these and their context gained after years of training and experience?

The cause-to-effect relation a motive for a sterile polemica

2006-07-12T21:30:00.000-07:00

In despite of a determining report ruled out during April the 19th 2006 lawsuit, in despite of a summary and evaluation of the International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) on "Herbal Remedies containing plants species of the genus Aristolochia" and although Nice (France) correctional court acknowledged its reality, the cause-to-effect relation between the absorption of the Arkopharma chinese herbs based pills and its nefast effects is still being denied by Max Rombi and Arkopharma. This even constitutes a new battlefield where experts fight each other around an undeniable reality: Some women have absorbed asiatitrat pills commercialized by Arkopharma - Max Rombi's company - and have lost their kidneys if not their lives.

How many more victims?

2006-07-05T19:30:00.000-07:00

(...)Toulouse (France) (AP) - July the 5th of 2006. Arkopharma (e.g. Health From The Sun) phythotherapy group's ex-CEO Max Rombi has been sentenced this wednesday to pay a penalty for fraud but has been acquited of the charge of "unintentional" injury on two women whom have absorbed chinese herbs based products by the correctional court of Toulouse (France).(...)

Fourteen years of interminable procedures and ongoing sufferings to reach a complete 180 degrees turn of the sentence pronounced by the correctional court of Nice (France) in October 2005 (2 years in jail and 20,000 euros of penalty for homicides), and Max Rombi appealing the decision again.

Fourteen years of interminable procedures where the victims have been treated like if they made some kind of abomination by absorbing the pills Arkopharma sold and where the inculped are converted in "victims". After all why on hell did they absord those pills?

A little reminder then (src. AGMED lang. fr):

7 cases of renal failure including 2 deaths / 2,000 to 3,000 people exposed in France

110 cases reported in Belgium in March 2000

2 cases reported in the UK in 1999

17 cases in China including 12 deaths

10 cases in Japan

And these are only the cases officially reported of women having absorded aristolochia herbs (probably in the form of pills). There are certainly other women whom having absorbed pills commercialized by Arkopharma - Max Rombi's firm - and lost their kidneys are not fully aware of the cause of their renal failure. Some of these women might also be developing a urinal cancer and should be diagnosticated ASAP...