Police Arrest Zicam Inventor

A Redondo Beach resident indicted on charges of illegally importing and distributing an unapproved herbal product pleaded not guilty in court Thursday afternoon, according to a news release from the U.S. Attorney's Office.

Charles B. Hensley was released on a $5,000 unsecured appearance bond, prosecutors told City News Service.

Hensley, 57, was arrested by members of the Southern California Import Task Force and the United States Postal Inspection Service at his home Wednesday afternoon. Prosecutors allege that Hensley, the inventor of the zinc-based Zicam cold remedy, imported and distributed Vira 38, touting it as a cure for the H5N1 virus, or bird flu.

A federal grand jury handed up the 12-count indictment on May 20. Hensley was indicted on four misdemeanor counts of introducing an unapproved new drug into interstate commerce, four misdemeanor counts of introduction of a misbranded drug into interstate commerce and four felony counts of illegally importing an unapproved drug into the United States.

If convicted on all charges, Hensley could face a 28-year federal prison term, prosecutors said.

According to the U.S. Attorney's Office, Hensley's company, PRB Pharmaceuticals, Inc., sought to sell Vira 38 as an influenza treatment in Hong Kong; however, marketing efforts abroad failed, and Hensley started promoting the medication as something that could fight bird flu.

"VIRA 38, PRB Pharmaceuticals' over-the-countery broad spectrum anti-viral medication, is known for its effectiveness in treating and preventing influenza," the company wrote in a news release. "VIRA 38 has recently been shown to contain compounds that inhibit the bird flu (H5N1) virus."

Nevertheless, the product was never approved by the Food and Drug Administration, even as Hensley imported Vira 38, which would be considered a prescription drug, to the U.S. and sold it without a prescription, prosecutors said.

City News Service contributed to this report.