Hong Kong police arrest clinic operator over sales of bogus ‘cancer vaccine’

Hong Kong police arrest clinic operator over sales of bogus ‘cancer vaccine’ Authorities seize more than 50 unregistered injections in investigation into product marketed as vaccine against more than 20 types of cancer Hong Kong authorities have arrested a 28-year-old man in charge of a clinic accused of selling a laboratory reagent as a bogus vaccine against more than 20 types of cancer. The arrest followed a joint operation by the Department of Health and police, during which investigators raided 13 premises linked to the company, said Frank Chan Ling-fung, an assistant director of health who oversees drug matters. Chan said there had been no reports of illness among people who had received the so-called “WT1 cancer vaccine”. While WT1 refers to a legitimate protein target being studied in cancer research, the case involved patients allegedly being injected with a German laboratory chemical containing the protein that is only for research purposes. The chemical is not registered as a medicine anywhere in the world. Authorities seized more than 50 unregistered injections, most of them vitamin-type health products. The injections were classified as Part I poisons under local law. The clinic had previously come under official scrutiny after media reports exposed its alleged illegal practices. [Image text:] DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH