FDA bans natural substance manufactured by the body itself

The FDA recently went after picamilon, a natural combination of Vitamin B3 and a substance made in the body that crosses the blood-brain barrier known as GABA. This natural substance has been so useful as a neuroprotector in boosting brain functioning that Eli Lilly decided to use it as the basis for an Alzheimer’s drug called Solanezumab. At that point, longstanding natural supplements that contain picamilon became a threat to the $7.6 billion the drug company was expected to pull in from its Alzheimer’s drug by 2024. As the drug trials entered their final rounds, supplement firms started getting letters from the FDA about not promoting its natural alternative.