‘Miracle Cream’ claims challenged by Nevada

Friday, March 1, 2002 | 11:06 a.m.

The state Attorney General's office sued to stop a Henderson business from marketing its "Miracle" cream as an alternative to prescription drugs for conditions like depression, infertility and breast cancer and as an estrogen replacement without approval from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration.

Kathleen Delaney, deputy attorney general, said Debra and Roger Peeples doing business as Health Notification Service advertised the cream, also known as "Miracle Natural Progesterone Cream" and "Miracle Wild Yam Cream," as a safe and effective treatment, allegedly without established evidence.

The defendants allegedly marketed the cream nationally through direct mail advertisements and a toll-free telephone number. Besides treating depression, infertility and breast cancer and serving as an alternative estrogen replacement, they allegedly claimed it would treat or prevent osteoporosis, symptoms of premenstrual syndrome, menopause, ovarian cysts and fibrocystic mastitis.

They were accused of mailing envelops that claimed "a Medical Recall Notice" and a "Drug Recall Warning" were enclosed -- when in fact, the state alleged, they contained advertisements for the product.

The defendants, who were also accused of making false claims that prescription estrogen and progestin drugs were determined to be hazardous and have been recalled from the market, allegedly refused to stop marketing the "Miracle Cream" despite being served with a warning letter from the FDA on Sept. 29, 2000.

Roger Peeples disputed the state's allegations, saying his product is in full compliance with FDA regulations. "The FDA inspected us and the cream meets FDA requirements. We based our claims on independent studies and research done by drug companies that showed the cream treats osteoporosis, menopause, depression and other diseases."