Federal court orders prescription animal drug supplier to pay more than $11M

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A national supplier of prescription pharmaceuticals for animals is required to pay more than $11 million in fines and forfeiture for “introducing misbranded drugs into interstate commerce,” according to the United States Attorney’s Office, Western District of Virginia. Midwest Veterinary Supply (MVS), which distributes animal drugs to veterinarians, farms, feedlots, and other businesses, was sentenced to 1 year probation in federal court today,¹ after pleading guilty to the charge in April.²

MVS is based in Lakeville, Minnesota with additional distribution locations throughout the United States including those in Birmingham, Alabama; Dallas, Texas; Des Moines, Iowa; Fort Wayne, Indiana; Las Vegas, Nevada; Norristown, Pennsylvania; Ocala, Florida; and Sun Prairie, Wisconsin.³ Court documents from 2011 to 2021 showed that MVS charged more than $10 million for prescription drugs that were shipped from their nonpharmacy locations to end-users that were not authorized to receive prescription drugs, which deemed them “misbranded,” according a press release from the US Attorney’s Office.¹

In the release, United States Attorney Christopher R. Kavanaugh emphasized that the US Attorney’s Offices takes the distribution of misbranded prescription drugs seriously, whether for animals or humans. “The law is designed to ensure that prescription drugs are kept within a controlled chain of distribution to prevent diversion and inappropriate use, and companies must be held accountable when they go outside of that chain,” said Kavanaugh.¹

The FDA’s Office of Criminal Investigations and the Virginia State Police investigated the case, assisted by the Virginia Department of Health Professions, while Assistant US Attorney Randy Ramseyer prosecuted the case, the US Attorney’s Office.¹

“The FDA recognizes the importance of controlling the prescription drug supply for animals. The careless or uncontrolled distribution of prescription animal drugs poses a danger not only to the medicated animals but to the US public health by increasing the risk that humans will become resistant to antibiotics that we unknowingly consume through our food supply,” said Special Agent in Charge George A. Scavdis, FDA Office of Criminal Investigations Metro Washington Field Office, in the release. “We will continue to pursue and bring to justice those who distribute prescription animal drugs unlawfully.”¹

dvm360 was unable to reach MVS for comment on the sentence ruling.

References

1. Midwest Veterinary Supply sentenced for misbranding veterinary drugs. News release. US Attorney’s Office, Western District of Virginia. June 12, 2023. Accessed June 13, 2023.https://www.justice.gov/usao-wdva/pr/midwest-veterinary-supply-sentenced-misbranding-veterinary-drugs?utm_medium=email&utm_source=govdelivery
2. Midwest Veterinary Supply pleads guilty to introducing misbranded drugs. dvm360. April 4, 2023. Accessed June 13, 2023. https://www.dvm360.com/view/midwest-veterinary-supply-pleads-guilty-to-introducing-misbranded-drugs
3. Midwest Veterinary Supply. Accessed June 13, 2023. https://www.midwestvetsupply.com/wps/portal/c/about-us/contact-us