Firm fined over Lyprinol sale

Auckland distributor Pacific Pharmaceuticals was yesterday fined more than $5000 after admitting charges related to the sale and marketing of Lyprinol, a greenshell mussel extract.

In the North Shore District Court, Judge Sharon McAuslan fined the 23-year-old company $5000 on a charge of selling Lyprinol without the consent of the Minister of Health.

The firm was fined a further $150 on a charge related to the publishing of material claiming Lyprinol would prevent, alleviate or cure cancer or arthritis.

Lyprinol was released on the New Zealand market a year ago.

Pacific Pharmaceuticals stopped selling the mussel extract within three hours of trading after it was approached by the Ministry of Health.

In court, lawyer Bruce Gray, representing Pacific, claimed the company's involvement in the illegal marketing aspects of Lyprinol had been minor.

A charge against Pacific managing director John Kemp and one against company sales and marketing manager David Willis were dropped.

Prosecutor Morag McDowell appeared for the ministry.