MONTGOMERY, Ala. – Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall on Monday, Dec. 12, announced the State settled a lawsuit with Aurora IV and Wellness, a Cullman-based IV infusion clinic, and its owners, Amanda and Chris Medders. The lawsuit said the clinic was providing research-grade GLP-1 medications, but advertising them as pharmaceutical-grade.
According to Marshall, the settlement requires the Medderses to pay $17,267.50 in damages to certain consumers who submitted complaints to the attorney general, as well as $7,000 in penalties and fees to the State. The agreement also permanently closes Aurora IV and Wellness and prohibits the Medderses from working in the health care industry in any capacity that involves the direct treatment of patients. Amanda Medders has also surrendered her nursing license to the Board of Nursing.
“Exploiting the need for medical GLP-1 weight-loss medication by using unapproved, research-grade chemicals on unsuspecting patients is an extremely reckless form of consumer deception,” said Marshall. “This type of dangerous disregard for patient safety will not be tolerated in Alabama.”
In November, Marshall announced a temporary restraining order against the business and owners after a lawsuit was filed for violations of Alabama’s Deceptive Trade Practices Act he said constituted serious threats to public health and safety.
“The State’s investigation revealed that the defendants advertised their weight loss drugs – tirzepatide and semaglutide, both GLP-1 medications – as ‘pharmaceutical-grade.’ In reality, the defendants were providing patients with research-grade versions of those drugs that were not approved for human use. The manufacturer of the drugs dispensed by the defendants explicitly stated that the drugs were meant for laboratory research purposes only,” said a media release from Marshall’s office.
Marshall thanked the Alabama Board of Nursing, the Alabama Board of Medical Examiners and the Cullman Police Department for their assistance in the investigation and lawsuit.
