Baldness tablets do not work says lawsuit

The products efficacy has never been proved by scientific studies

Jan 2010

A follicularly-challenged man has sued Teva-Altman (no relation to Teva Pharmaceutical Industries) in a class-action suit on the alleged grounds that its hair restorative HRRoots doesn't work.

Teva-Altman falsely claims that using the nutrition additive HRRoots will stop hair loss, strengthen hair from the root, or even restore hair, says Ehud Nathan.

But the product's efficacy has never been proved by scientific studies as the company avers, he charges. If anything, taking the tablets can cause physical harm, the plaintiff adds.

He has filed his suit as a class-action motion that could set back the company by NIS 107 million.

Nathan's lawsuit relies on an expert opinion from dermatologist Dr. Arie Lifshitz, who wrote that the tablets consist of various minerals and plant extracts that can serve as food additives. But there is no evidence in the medical literature that these extracts are effective in treating hair loss, Lifshitz wrote. "The medical literature opines that taking additives that the body does not lack could cause damage," he added.

He took the tablets for half a year, says Nathan, having been misled by Teva-Altman failing to advise that their efficacy had never been scientifically proved by clinical trials.

The HRRoots tablets might work when hair loss is caused by extreme deficiency in substances that the pills contain, he says, which would be a very rare state of affairs in a modern country like Israel.

Also, Teva-Altman violated health regulations by attributing medical benefit to a food additive, Nathan charges.

Teva-Altman said its Roots product is recommended by doctors in Israel and has proved efficacious for many of its takers. It hasn't received a copy of the lawsuit yet so it can't comment, the company said.

Source