Medical Scandal: 'Anti-Cancer Drug' Revealed as Sugar Pills Priced up to $57,000

On December 6, 2018, the Ministry of Public Security held a press conference in Beijing to brief the public on a major overseas medical fraud case that had been cracked under its organization and command. On April 24, 2018, under the unified command and deployment of the Ministry of Public Security and the Zhejiang Provincial Public Security Department, police in Jiaxing City dismantled this fraud syndicate. Investigations revealed that the primary organizer of the syndicate was Dalian Silande Biotechnology Co., Ltd. The group began its criminal activities in 2014, with the scope of fraud continuously expanding. Victims were distributed across 30 provinces, municipalities, and autonomous regions throughout China, excluding Tibet and the Hong Kong, Macao, and Taiwan regions. The syndicate committed more than 2,000 fraudulent acts, involving a total amount of nearly RMB 1 billion. This is the largest overseas medical fraud case cracked by police nationwide in terms of the amount involved, among all cases publicly reported to date. Behind this fraud case lay Dalian Silande Company.

It is reported that the fraud syndicate organized overseas tours for clients, during which the clients underwent medical examinations abroad. After the tests, “doctors” informed the clients that they were at risk of cancer and offered corresponding treatment plans, thereby indirectly selling counterfeit drugs.

Their so-called miracle anti-cancer drug, "Cancer Shield," was the brainchild of Mr. Wei, Manager of Market Research and Development at Dalian Silande Company. The product followed a route of domestic production, export to the United States, and subsequent re-importation for sale. Ultimately, Silande Company completed the bottling process in its domestic warehouse and affixed labels claiming it was an original import from the United States.

Cancer Shield is available in four models: Cancer Shield No. 1, No. 3, No. 5, and No. 9, priced at RMB 38,000, RMB 98,000, RMB 198,000, and RMB 398,000, respectively.

These so-called anti-cancer products, upon testing, were found to primarily contain lycopene and anthocyanins—essentially “sugar.” The cost per capsule is just over 2 yuan, with total packaging costs amounting to only a few hundred yuan, yet the selling price reaches nearly 400,000 yuan.

The so-called “doctor teams” are mostly composed of fake doctors, with some having noMedicineSome individuals impersonated regional managers of Dalian Silande by fabricating their professional experience; others were foreign students studying in China. After Dalian Silande prepared the PowerPoint presentations, these students were packaged as international medical experts and instructed to deliver scripted presentations based on the slides. Additionally, the company invited genuine overseas physicians to give lectures abroad. While these doctors presented authentic medical knowledge, they were unaware that they were being exploited.

In the face of this fraud incident, beyond anger, we should reflect on how to enhance our awareness against scams. This requires not only strengthening relevant medical knowledge but also paying close attention to industry news and developments, understanding the latest technologies, and grasping common industry practices. In fact, cancer risk prediction can be performed through gene sequencing; however, it is essential to undergo testing at reputable hospitals. Once a potential risk of developing cancer is identified, preventive measures such as vaccination and maintaining healthy lifestyle habits can help mitigate this risk. Generally, regular cancer screening is sufficient, as early detection leads to more effective treatment.

Renowned film star Angelina Jolie underwent prophylactic mastectomy and oophorectomy in 2013 and 2015, respectively. The Jolie family carries a genetic mutation that significantly increases cancer risk; both her mother and maternal aunt died of breast cancer in their fifties. After genetic testing confirmed that she carried the same mutation, Jolie opted for surgery. Her decision had a profound social impact, raising public awareness that proactive cancer prevention is possible through appropriate medical interventions. Although this approach may be considered extreme, Jolie effectively nipped cancer in the bud.

In addition to the surgical removal of tissues prone to pathological changes, vaccination is also an effective preventive measure. Cancer vaccines work by utilizing tumor-associated antigens to activate the human immune system against cancer. Currently, cancer vaccines are broadly categorized into preventive vaccines and therapeutic vaccines. The cancer vaccines currently available on the market are primarily preventive, although therapeutic vaccines have also been developed.

Preventive vaccines prevent the development of cancer by preventing and eliminating certain viral or bacterial infections; for example, the cervical cancer vaccine prevents human papillomavirus (HPV) infection, thereby preventing cervical cancer.

Therapeutic vaccines control or eradicate tumor cells by activating the body’s antigen-specific immune responses against cancer cell antigens. Unlike conventional radiotherapy, chemotherapy, and targeted therapy, this vaccine-based approach is associated with fewer side effects and offers the advantages of personalization and a favorable safety profile. It can be used for postoperative prevention of recurrence or as curative treatment, potentially enabling cancer patients to benefit earlier and more rapidly.

The 2018 Nobel Prize in Physiology or Medicine was awarded to two scientists for their pioneering contributions to cancer immunotherapy. Based on their research, CTLA-4 and PD-1 inhibitors, as well as CAR-T therapy, were developed, leveraging the body’s own immune T cells to precisely identify and destroy tumors, thereby avoiding the side effects associated with radiotherapy and chemotherapy.

Nowadays, there are numerous treatment modalities for cancer and a wide array of anticancer drugs available. The highly acclaimed “miracle drugs,” PD-1/PD-L1 inhibitors, are also gradually entering clinical practice. Since every approved anticancer drug has regulatory approval to rely on, it is essential to verify the authenticity and legitimacy of any cancer medication with an unclear origin.

Furthermore, many people feel panic-stricken at the mere mention of cancer, as it is often perceived as a terminal illness. However, this is not the case. Cancer is not as fearsome as it seems, and the concept of managing it as a chronic disease is gradually gaining acceptance. Currently, many hospitals can provide personalized diagnosis and treatment plans for cancer patients, including recommending targeted therapy drugs. These drugs specifically bind to oncogenic sites within the body, inducing selective death of tumor cells without affecting the surrounding normal tissues. The future of cancer treatment looks promising, but caution is warranted in medication use.

Source: Beike Society

Author: Mo Han