Maria Anzures-Camarena: Final Debarment Order, 46404-46406 [2024-11727]
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46404
Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 104 / Wednesday, May 29, 2024 / Notices
submission program. FDA uses the
information to evaluate whether a
medical device may be reclassified from
Class III into Class I or II, and if
applicable, to determine the general
and/or special controls necessary to
sufficiently regulate the medical device.
Respondents to this information
collection are private sector or other forprofit businesses.
FDA estimates the burden of this
collection of information as follows:
TABLE 1—ESTIMATED ANNUAL REPORTING BURDEN
21 CFR part 860, subpart D; information collection
activity
Number of
responses per
respondent
Number of
respondents
Total annual
responses
Average burden per
response
§§ 860.210, 860.220, 860.230; De Novo requests—format, content, and acceptance elements.
§ 860.230; FDA acceptance of request (GFI Acceptance Checklist; Appendix A) 1.
§ 860.250; withdrawal of request .............................
79
1
79
79
1
79
5
1
Total ..................................................................
........................
........................
1 FDA
Total hours
182 hours ..................
14,378
5
0.17 (10 mins.) ..........
1
84
....................................
14,379
assumes activities associated with review of the Acceptance Checklist are included in burden for submission of requests captured in row
1.
Our estimated burden for the
information collection reflects an
overall increase of 2,002 hours and a
corresponding increase of 11 responses.
We attribute this adjustment to an
increase in the number of submissions
we received over the last few years.
Dated: May 23, 2024.
Lauren K. Roth,
Associate Commissioner for Policy.
[FR Doc. 2024–11743 Filed 5–28–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4164–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES
Food and Drug Administration
[Docket No. FDA–2023–N–4805]
Maria Anzures-Camarena: Final
Debarment Order
AGENCY:
Food and Drug Administration,
HHS.
ACTION:
Notice.
The Food and Drug
Administration (FDA or Agency) is
issuing an order under the Federal
Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C
Act) permanently debarring Maria
Anzures-Camarena from providing
services in any capacity to a person that
has an approved or pending drug
product application. FDA bases this
order on a finding that Ms. AnzuresCamarena was convicted of a felony
under Federal law for conduct that
relates to the regulation of a drug
product under the FD&C Act. Ms.
Anzures-Camarena was given notice of
the proposed debarment and an
opportunity to request a hearing to show
why she should not be debarred. As of
March 6, 2024, (30 days after receipt of
the notice), Ms. Anzures-Camarena has
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SUMMARY:
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not responded. Ms. Anzures-Camarena’s
failure to respond and request a hearing
constitutes a waiver of her right to a
hearing concerning this matter.
DATES: This order is applicable May 29,
2024.
ADDRESSES: Any application by Ms.
Anzures-Camarena for special
termination of debarment under section
306(d)(4) of the FD&C Act (21 U.S.C.
335a(d)(4)) may be submitted at any
time as follows:
Electronic Submissions
• Federal eRulemaking Portal:
https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments.
An application submitted electronically,
including attachments, to https://
www.regulations.gov will be posted to
the docket unchanged. Because your
application will be made public, you are
solely responsible for ensuring that your
application does not include any
confidential information that you or a
third party may not wish to be posted,
such as medical information, your or
anyone else’s Social Security number, or
confidential business information, such
as a manufacturing process. Please note
that if you include your name, contact
information, or other information that
identifies you in the body of your
application, that information will be
posted on https://www.regulations.gov.
• If you want to submit an
application with confidential
information that you do not wish to be
made available to the public, submit the
application as a written/paper
submission and in the manner detailed
(see ‘‘Written/Paper Submissions’’ and
‘‘Instructions’’).
Written/Paper Submissions
• Mail/Hand Delivery/Courier (for
written/paper submissions): Dockets
PO 00000
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Management Staff (HFA–305), Food and
Drug Administration, 5630 Fishers
Lane, Rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 20852.
• For a written/paper application
submitted to the Dockets Management
Staff, FDA will post your application, as
well as any attachments, except for
information submitted, marked and
identified, as confidential, if submitted
as detailed in ‘‘Instructions.’’
Instructions: All applications must
include the Docket No. FDA–2023–N–
4805. Received applications will be
placed in the docket and, except for
those submitted as ‘‘Confidential
Submissions,’’ publicly viewable at
https://www.regulations.gov or at the
Dockets Management Staff between 9
a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through
Friday, 240–402–7500.
• Confidential Submissions—To
submit an application with confidential
information that you do not wish to be
made publicly available, submit your
application only as a written/paper
submission. You should submit two
copies total. One copy will include the
information you claim to be confidential
with a heading or cover note that states
‘‘THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS
CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION.’’ The
Agency will review this copy, including
the claimed confidential information, in
its consideration of your application.
The second copy, which will have the
claimed confidential information
redacted/blacked out, will be available
for public viewing and posted on
https://www.regulations.gov. Submit
both copies to the Dockets Management
Staff. Any information marked as
‘‘confidential’’ will not be disclosed
except in accordance with 21 CFR 10.20
and other applicable disclosure law. For
more information about FDA’s posting
of comments to public dockets, see 80
FR 56469, September 18, 2015, or access
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Federal Register / Vol. 89, No. 104 / Wednesday, May 29, 2024 / Notices
the information at: https://
www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-201509-18/pdf/2015-23389.pdf.
Docket: For access to the docket, go to
https://www.regulations.gov and insert
the docket number, found in brackets in
the heading of this document, into the
‘‘Search’’ box and follow the prompts
and/or go to the Dockets Management
Staff, 5630 Fishers Lane, Rm. 1061,
Rockville, MD 20852 between 9 a.m.
and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday,
240–402–7500. Publicly available
submissions may be seen in the docket.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Jaime Espinosa, Division of Compliance
and Enforcement, Office of Policy,
Compliance, and Enforcement, Office of
Regulatory Affairs, Food and Drug
Administration, 240–402–8743,
debarments@fda.hhs.gov.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
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I. Background
Section 306(a)(2)(B) of the FD&C Act
requires debarment of an individual
from providing services in any capacity
to a person that has an approved or
pending drug product application if
FDA finds that the individual has been
convicted of a felony under Federal law
for conduct relating to the regulation of
any drug product under the FD&C Act.
On March 17, 2023, Ms. AnzuresCamarena was convicted as defined in
section 306(l)(1) of the FD&C Act in the
U.S. District Court for the Eastern
District of Texas-Beaumont Division
when the court accepted her plea of
guilty and entered judgment against her
for the felony offense of Conspiracy to
Traffick in Drugs with Counterfeit Mark
in violation of 18 U.S.C. 371, and 18
U.S.C. 2320(a)(4). The underlying facts
supporting the conviction are as
follows: As contained in the Second
Superseding Indictment, and the
Factual Basis, between approximately
April 2014 and February 2021 Ms.
Anzures-Camarena was involved in a
conspiracy with drug traffickers to
distribute misbranded and counterfeit
cough syrup. Specifically, Ms. AnzuresCamarena worked for Woodfield
Pharmaceutical LLC as a packaging
specialist. Woodfield Pharmaceutical
LLC was a part of a group of
pharmaceutical companies that
included Woodfield Pharmaceutical
LLC, a contract manufacturing
company, and Woodfield Distribution
LLC, a third-party logistics company
(collectively, ‘‘Woodfield’’).
On April 25, 2014, Woodfield
acquired Pernix Manufacturing LLC
(Pernix). Pernix had, in January 2014,
entered into an agreement with Byron
A. Marshall and his Drug Trafficking
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18:05 May 28, 2024
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Organization (DTO) to copy and
manufacture cough syrup according to
the directions of Marshall and his
associates. Marshall was not licensed or
authorized to distribute cough syrup
and any background check of the
personal information provided by
Marshall to Pernix or later Woodfield
would have revealed that he was not a
licensed physician as he claimed.
Initially, Marshall sought to copy
Actavis Prometh VC with Codeine
(Actavis). Actavis is a purple, peachmint flavored prescription cough syrup
that was in demand as a street drug.
Marshall and his associates wanted to
mass produce and traffic a counterfeit
version of Actavis that contained
promethazine, but not codeine.
On April 24, 2014, Actavis Holdco US
discontinued production of Actavis due
to its widespread abuse by recreational
drug users. A Pernix productdevelopment scientist worked with
Marshall and his associates to re-create
the Actavis product without codeine
and promethazine in order to re-create
the syrup base, which is a necessary
component of cough syrup. Marshall
and his associates would add
Promethazine to the counterfeit syrup
base prior to bottling and distribution in
order to create the street drug. Marshall
and his DTO also obtained counterfeited
commercial-grade pharmaceutical labels
designed to look exactly like the
genuine labels for the prescription
cough syrup from another supplier.
Later in the conspiracy, Marshall and
his DTO asked Woodfield employees to
reformulate other cough syrup to use in
their drug trafficking scheme to include
Hi-Tech Promethazine Hydrocholoride
and Codeine Phosphate Oral Solution
(Hi-Tech) and Wockhardt Promethazine
Syrup Plain (Wockhardt).
In her position within Woodfield, Ms.
Anzures-Camarena assisted in the
packaging and delivery of the
counterfeit syrup. In addition, when the
Marshall DTO exhausted its available
supply of promethazine, Ms. AnzuresCamarena was videoed, along with her
supervisor, removing controlled
substances from Woodfield’s vault to
deliver to the Marshall DTO. Later, Ms.
Anzures-Camarena agreed with other
Woodfield employees to create
additional syrup base supply not
authorized by Woodfield in order to sell
that additional supply to Marshall and
DTO at a reduced price in order to split
the fee with other Woodfield employees,
a practice Ms. Anzures-Camarena and
other employees called, ‘‘double
batching.’’ No records of the ‘‘double
batching’’ were created.
From 2014 through February 2021,
the conspiracy between the Marshall
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DTO produced and distributed, or
attempted to produce and distribute,
approximately 65,920 gallons of
counterfeit cough syrup.
FDA sent Ms. Anzures-Camarena, by
certified mail, on January 25, 2024, a
notice proposing to permanently debar
her from providing services in any
capacity to a person that has an
approved or pending drug product
application. The proposal was based on
a finding, under section 306(a)(2)(B) of
the FD&C Act that Ms. AnzuresCamarena was convicted of a felony
under Federal law for conduct relating
to the regulation of a drug product
under the FD&C Act. The proposal
informed Ms. Anzures-Camarena of the
proposed debarment and offered her an
opportunity to request a hearing,
providing her 30 days from the date of
receipt of the letter in which to file the
request, and advised her that failure to
request a hearing constituted a waiver of
the opportunity for a hearing and of any
contentions concerning this action. Ms.
Anzures-Camarena received the
proposal and notice of opportunity for
a hearing on February 5, 2024. Ms.
Anzures-Camarena failed to request a
hearing within the timeframe prescribed
by regulation and has, therefore, waived
her opportunity for a hearing and
waived any contentions concerning her
debarment (21 CFR part 12).
II. Findings and Order
Therefore, the Assistant
Commissioner, Office of Human and
Animal Food Operations, under section
306(a)(2)(B) of the FD&C Act, under
authority delegated to the Assistant
Commissioner, finds that Maria
Anzures-Camarena has been convicted
of a felony under Federal law for
conduct relating to the regulation of a
drug product under the FD&C Act.
As a result of the foregoing finding,
Ms. Anzures-Camarena is permanently
debarred from providing services in any
capacity to a person with an approved
or pending drug product application,
effective (see DATES) (see sections
306(a)(2)(B) and 306(c)(2)(A)(ii) of the
FD&C Act). Any person with an
approved or pending drug product
application who knowingly employs or
retains as a consultant or contractor, or
otherwise uses in any capacity the
services of Ms. Anzures-Camarena
during her debarment, will be subject to
civil money penalties (section 307(a)(6)
of the FD&C Act (21 U.S.C. 335b(a)(6))).
If Ms. Anzures-Camarena provides
services in any capacity to a person with
an approved or pending drug product
application during her period of
debarment she will be subject to civil
money penalties (section 307(a)(7) of the
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FD&C Act). In addition, FDA will not
accept or review any abbreviated new
drug application from Ms. AnzuresCamarena during her period of
debarment, other than in connection
with an audit under section 306 of the
FD&C Act (section 306(c)(1)(B) of the
FD&C Act). Note that, for purposes of
sections 306 and 307 of the FD&C Act,
a ‘‘drug product’’ is defined as a ‘‘drug
subject to regulation under section 505,
512, or 802 of the FD&C Act (21 U.S.C.
355, 360b, or 382) or under section 351
of the Public Health Service Act (42
U.S.C. 262)’’ (section 201(dd) of the
FD&C Act (21 U.S.C. 321(dd))).
Dated: May 23, 2024.
Lauren K. Roth,
Associate Commissioner for Policy.
[FR Doc. 2024–11727 Filed 5–28–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4164–01–P
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES
Food and Drug Administration
[Docket No. FDA–2024–N–2377]
Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals,
Inc., et al.; Withdrawal of Approval of
Three New Drug Applications
AGENCY:
Food and Drug Administration,
HHS.
ACTION:
Notice.
The Food and Drug
Administration (FDA or Agency) is
withdrawing approval of three new drug
applications (NDAs) from multiple
applicants. The applicants notified the
Agency in writing that the drug
products were no longer marketed and
requested that the approval of the
applications be withdrawn.
SUMMARY:
Approval is withdrawn as of
June 28, 2024.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:
Kimberly Lehrfeld, Center for Drug
Evaluation and Research, Food and
Drug Administration, 10903 New
Hampshire Ave., Bldg. 51, Rm. 6226,
Silver Spring, MD 20993–0002, 301–
796–3137, Kimberly.Lehrfeld@
fda.hhs.gov.
DATES:
The
applicants listed in table 1 have
informed FDA that these drug products
are no longer marketed and have
requested that FDA withdraw approval
of the applications under the process in
§ 314.150(c) (21 CFR 314.150(c)). The
applicants have also, by their requests,
waived their opportunity for a hearing.
Withdrawal of approval of an
application or abbreviated application
under § 314.150(c) is without prejudice
to refiling.
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
TABLE 1—NDAS FOR WHICH APPROVAL IS WITHDRAWN
Application No.
NDA 019857 ..........
NDA 021158 ..........
NDA 021473 ..........
Drug
Cipro in Dextrose 5% in Plastic Container (ciprofloxacin)
Injectable, 200 milligrams (mg)/100 milliliters (mL) and
400 mg/200 mL.
Factive (gemifloxacin mesylate) Tablet, Equivalent to (EQ)
320 mg base.
Cipro XR (ciprofloxacin hydrochloride) Extended-Release
Tablet, EQ 287.5 mg base.
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Therefore, approval of the
applications listed in table 1, and all
amendments and supplements thereto,
is hereby withdrawn as of June 28, 2024.
Approval of each entire application is
withdrawn, including any strengths and
dosage forms included in the
application but inadvertently missing
from table 1. Introduction or delivery for
introduction into interstate commerce of
products listed in table 1 without an
approved NDA violates sections 505(a)
and 301(d) of the Federal Food, Drug,
and Cosmetic Act (21 U.S.C. 355(a) and
331(d)). Drug products that are listed in
table 1 that are in inventory on June 28,
2024 may continue to be dispensed
until the inventories have been depleted
or the drug products have reached their
expiration dates or otherwise become
violative, whichever occurs first.
Dated: May 23, 2024.
Lauren K. Roth,
Associate Commissioner for Policy.
[FR Doc. 2024–11721 Filed 5–28–24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4164–01–P
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Applicant
18:42 May 28, 2024
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Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals, Inc., 100 Bayer Blvd.,
Whippany, NJ 07981.
LG Chem Ltd., C/O Parexel International, 2520 Meridian
Parkway, Suite 200, Durham, NC 27713.
Bayer HealthCare Pharmaceuticals, Inc.
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND
HUMAN SERVICES
Food and Drug Administration
[Docket No. FDA–2024–D–1829]
Platform Technology Designation
Program; Draft Guidance for Industry;
Availability; Agency Information
Collection Activities; Proposed
Collection; Comment Request
AGENCY:
Food and Drug Administration,
HHS.
ACTION:
Notice of availability.
The Food and Drug
Administration (FDA, Agency, or we) is
announcing the availability of a draft
guidance for industry entitled ‘‘Platform
Technology Designation Program for
Drug Development.’’ The purpose of this
draft guidance is to provide details
about the implementation of the
Platform Technology Designation
Program established by the PREVENT
Pandemics Act. This draft guidance
outlines eligibility factors for receiving
a platform technology designation,
potential benefits of receiving a
designation, how to leverage data from
designated platform technologies, how
SUMMARY:
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to discuss the planned designation
request as part of a milestone meeting,
the recommended content of a
designation request submission, and the
review timelines for a designation
request. This draft guidance, when
finalized, will represent the current
thinking of FDA.
DATES: Submit either electronic or
written comments on the draft guidance
by July 29, 2024 to ensure that the
Agency considers your comment on this
draft guidance before it begins work on
the final version of the guidance.
Submit electronic or written comments
on the proposed collection of
information in the draft guidance by
July 29, 2024.
ADDRESSES: You may submit comments
on any guidance at any time as follows:
Electronic Submissions
Submit electronic comments in the
following way:
• Federal eRulemaking Portal:
https://www.regulations.gov. Follow the
instructions for submitting comments.
Comments submitted electronically,
including attachments, to https://
www.regulations.gov will be posted to
the docket unchanged. Because your
E:\FR\FM\29MYN1.SGM
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Agencies
[Federal Register Volume 89, Number 104 (Wednesday, May 29, 2024)]
[Notices]
[Pages 46404-46406]
From the Federal Register Online via the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]
[FR Doc No: 2024-11727]
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DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES
Food and Drug Administration
[Docket No. FDA-2023-N-4805]
Maria Anzures-Camarena: Final Debarment Order
AGENCY: Food and Drug Administration, HHS.
ACTION: Notice.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------
SUMMARY: The Food and Drug Administration (FDA or Agency) is issuing an
order under the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (FD&C Act)
permanently debarring Maria Anzures-Camarena from providing services in
any capacity to a person that has an approved or pending drug product
application. FDA bases this order on a finding that Ms. Anzures-
Camarena was convicted of a felony under Federal law for conduct that
relates to the regulation of a drug product under the FD&C Act. Ms.
Anzures-Camarena was given notice of the proposed debarment and an
opportunity to request a hearing to show why she should not be
debarred. As of March 6, 2024, (30 days after receipt of the notice),
Ms. Anzures-Camarena has not responded. Ms. Anzures-Camarena's failure
to respond and request a hearing constitutes a waiver of her right to a
hearing concerning this matter.
DATES: This order is applicable May 29, 2024.
ADDRESSES: Any application by Ms. Anzures-Camarena for special
termination of debarment under section 306(d)(4) of the FD&C Act (21
U.S.C. 335a(d)(4)) may be submitted at any time as follows:
Electronic Submissions
Federal eRulemaking Portal: https://www.regulations.gov.
Follow the instructions for submitting comments. An application
submitted electronically, including attachments, to https://www.regulations.gov will be posted to the docket unchanged. Because
your application will be made public, you are solely responsible for
ensuring that your application does not include any confidential
information that you or a third party may not wish to be posted, such
as medical information, your or anyone else's Social Security number,
or confidential business information, such as a manufacturing process.
Please note that if you include your name, contact information, or
other information that identifies you in the body of your application,
that information will be posted on https://www.regulations.gov.
If you want to submit an application with confidential
information that you do not wish to be made available to the public,
submit the application as a written/paper submission and in the manner
detailed (see ``Written/Paper Submissions'' and ``Instructions'').
Written/Paper Submissions
Mail/Hand Delivery/Courier (for written/paper
submissions): Dockets Management Staff (HFA-305), Food and Drug
Administration, 5630 Fishers Lane, Rm. 1061, Rockville, MD 20852.
For a written/paper application submitted to the Dockets
Management Staff, FDA will post your application, as well as any
attachments, except for information submitted, marked and identified,
as confidential, if submitted as detailed in ``Instructions.''
Instructions: All applications must include the Docket No. FDA-
2023-N-4805. Received applications will be placed in the docket and,
except for those submitted as ``Confidential Submissions,'' publicly
viewable at https://www.regulations.gov or at the Dockets Management
Staff between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, 240-402-7500.
Confidential Submissions--To submit an application with
confidential information that you do not wish to be made publicly
available, submit your application only as a written/paper submission.
You should submit two copies total. One copy will include the
information you claim to be confidential with a heading or cover note
that states ``THIS DOCUMENT CONTAINS CONFIDENTIAL INFORMATION.'' The
Agency will review this copy, including the claimed confidential
information, in its consideration of your application. The second copy,
which will have the claimed confidential information redacted/blacked
out, will be available for public viewing and posted on https://www.regulations.gov. Submit both copies to the Dockets Management
Staff. Any information marked as ``confidential'' will not be disclosed
except in accordance with 21 CFR 10.20 and other applicable disclosure
law. For more information about FDA's posting of comments to public
dockets, see 80 FR 56469, September 18, 2015, or access
[[Page 46405]]
the information at: https://www.govinfo.gov/content/pkg/FR-2015-09-18/pdf/2015-23389.pdf.
Docket: For access to the docket, go to https://www.regulations.gov
and insert the docket number, found in brackets in the heading of this
document, into the ``Search'' box and follow the prompts and/or go to
the Dockets Management Staff, 5630 Fishers Lane, Rm. 1061, Rockville,
MD 20852 between 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Monday through Friday, 240-402-
7500. Publicly available submissions may be seen in the docket.
FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: Jaime Espinosa, Division of Compliance
and Enforcement, Office of Policy, Compliance, and Enforcement, Office
of Regulatory Affairs, Food and Drug Administration, 240-402-8743,
[email protected].
SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION:
I. Background
Section 306(a)(2)(B) of the FD&C Act requires debarment of an
individual from providing services in any capacity to a person that has
an approved or pending drug product application if FDA finds that the
individual has been convicted of a felony under Federal law for conduct
relating to the regulation of any drug product under the FD&C Act. On
March 17, 2023, Ms. Anzures-Camarena was convicted as defined in
section 306(l)(1) of the FD&C Act in the U.S. District Court for the
Eastern District of Texas-Beaumont Division when the court accepted her
plea of guilty and entered judgment against her for the felony offense
of Conspiracy to Traffick in Drugs with Counterfeit Mark in violation
of 18 U.S.C. 371, and 18 U.S.C. 2320(a)(4). The underlying facts
supporting the conviction are as follows: As contained in the Second
Superseding Indictment, and the Factual Basis, between approximately
April 2014 and February 2021 Ms. Anzures-Camarena was involved in a
conspiracy with drug traffickers to distribute misbranded and
counterfeit cough syrup. Specifically, Ms. Anzures-Camarena worked for
Woodfield Pharmaceutical LLC as a packaging specialist. Woodfield
Pharmaceutical LLC was a part of a group of pharmaceutical companies
that included Woodfield Pharmaceutical LLC, a contract manufacturing
company, and Woodfield Distribution LLC, a third-party logistics
company (collectively, ``Woodfield'').
On April 25, 2014, Woodfield acquired Pernix Manufacturing LLC
(Pernix). Pernix had, in January 2014, entered into an agreement with
Byron A. Marshall and his Drug Trafficking Organization (DTO) to copy
and manufacture cough syrup according to the directions of Marshall and
his associates. Marshall was not licensed or authorized to distribute
cough syrup and any background check of the personal information
provided by Marshall to Pernix or later Woodfield would have revealed
that he was not a licensed physician as he claimed. Initially, Marshall
sought to copy Actavis Prometh VC with Codeine (Actavis). Actavis is a
purple, peach-mint flavored prescription cough syrup that was in demand
as a street drug. Marshall and his associates wanted to mass produce
and traffic a counterfeit version of Actavis that contained
promethazine, but not codeine.
On April 24, 2014, Actavis Holdco US discontinued production of
Actavis due to its widespread abuse by recreational drug users. A
Pernix product-development scientist worked with Marshall and his
associates to re-create the Actavis product without codeine and
promethazine in order to re-create the syrup base, which is a necessary
component of cough syrup. Marshall and his associates would add
Promethazine to the counterfeit syrup base prior to bottling and
distribution in order to create the street drug. Marshall and his DTO
also obtained counterfeited commercial-grade pharmaceutical labels
designed to look exactly like the genuine labels for the prescription
cough syrup from another supplier. Later in the conspiracy, Marshall
and his DTO asked Woodfield employees to reformulate other cough syrup
to use in their drug trafficking scheme to include Hi-Tech Promethazine
Hydrocholoride and Codeine Phosphate Oral Solution (Hi-Tech) and
Wockhardt Promethazine Syrup Plain (Wockhardt).
In her position within Woodfield, Ms. Anzures-Camarena assisted in
the packaging and delivery of the counterfeit syrup. In addition, when
the Marshall DTO exhausted its available supply of promethazine, Ms.
Anzures-Camarena was videoed, along with her supervisor, removing
controlled substances from Woodfield's vault to deliver to the Marshall
DTO. Later, Ms. Anzures-Camarena agreed with other Woodfield employees
to create additional syrup base supply not authorized by Woodfield in
order to sell that additional supply to Marshall and DTO at a reduced
price in order to split the fee with other Woodfield employees, a
practice Ms. Anzures-Camarena and other employees called, ``double
batching.'' No records of the ``double batching'' were created.
From 2014 through February 2021, the conspiracy between the
Marshall DTO produced and distributed, or attempted to produce and
distribute, approximately 65,920 gallons of counterfeit cough syrup.
FDA sent Ms. Anzures-Camarena, by certified mail, on January 25,
2024, a notice proposing to permanently debar her from providing
services in any capacity to a person that has an approved or pending
drug product application. The proposal was based on a finding, under
section 306(a)(2)(B) of the FD&C Act that Ms. Anzures-Camarena was
convicted of a felony under Federal law for conduct relating to the
regulation of a drug product under the FD&C Act. The proposal informed
Ms. Anzures-Camarena of the proposed debarment and offered her an
opportunity to request a hearing, providing her 30 days from the date
of receipt of the letter in which to file the request, and advised her
that failure to request a hearing constituted a waiver of the
opportunity for a hearing and of any contentions concerning this
action. Ms. Anzures-Camarena received the proposal and notice of
opportunity for a hearing on February 5, 2024. Ms. Anzures-Camarena
failed to request a hearing within the timeframe prescribed by
regulation and has, therefore, waived her opportunity for a hearing and
waived any contentions concerning her debarment (21 CFR part 12).
II. Findings and Order
Therefore, the Assistant Commissioner, Office of Human and Animal
Food Operations, under section 306(a)(2)(B) of the FD&C Act, under
authority delegated to the Assistant Commissioner, finds that Maria
Anzures-Camarena has been convicted of a felony under Federal law for
conduct relating to the regulation of a drug product under the FD&C
Act.
As a result of the foregoing finding, Ms. Anzures-Camarena is
permanently debarred from providing services in any capacity to a
person with an approved or pending drug product application, effective
(see DATES) (see sections 306(a)(2)(B) and 306(c)(2)(A)(ii) of the FD&C
Act). Any person with an approved or pending drug product application
who knowingly employs or retains as a consultant or contractor, or
otherwise uses in any capacity the services of Ms. Anzures-Camarena
during her debarment, will be subject to civil money penalties (section
307(a)(6) of the FD&C Act (21 U.S.C. 335b(a)(6))). If Ms. Anzures-
Camarena provides services in any capacity to a person with an approved
or pending drug product application during her period of debarment she
will be subject to civil money penalties (section 307(a)(7) of the
[[Page 46406]]
FD&C Act). In addition, FDA will not accept or review any abbreviated
new drug application from Ms. Anzures-Camarena during her period of
debarment, other than in connection with an audit under section 306 of
the FD&C Act (section 306(c)(1)(B) of the FD&C Act). Note that, for
purposes of sections 306 and 307 of the FD&C Act, a ``drug product'' is
defined as a ``drug subject to regulation under section 505, 512, or
802 of the FD&C Act (21 U.S.C. 355, 360b, or 382) or under section 351
of the Public Health Service Act (42 U.S.C. 262)'' (section 201(dd) of
the FD&C Act (21 U.S.C. 321(dd))).
Dated: May 23, 2024.
Lauren K. Roth,
Associate Commissioner for Policy.
[FR Doc. 2024-11727 Filed 5-28-24; 8:45 am]
BILLING CODE 4164-01-P