Quicksilver Scientific
FDA issued a warning letter to Quicksilver Scientific (Louisville, CO, United States) on Oct 13, 2021, citing 21 CFR 201.5. Subject: New Drug, Misbranded.
From the letter: “The claims on your website establish that the products are drugs under section 201(g)(1)(B) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the Act) [21 U.S.C. § 321(g)(1)(B)] because they are intended for use in the cure, mitigation…”
FDA published a close-out letter on Oct 3, 2024. The findings below are from the original warning letter.
At a glance
What a reviewer notes before reading: findings, citations, the response deadline and what the letter warns of.
- Violations
- 3 findings · 1 issue type
- Cited
- 21 CFR 201.5
- Response due
- 15 working days after receipt of this letter
- FDA asks for
- 5 actions
- Named as possible actions
- Seizure, injunction
- Issued by
- Office of Human and Animal Food Operations Division West 4
- Published status
- Close-out Oct 3, 2024
AI assisted findings
Model-assisted reading of each issue. Open one to see the FDA text it comes from, and check it against the full letter.
01Labeling, claims & marketingWebsite claims for four products establish they are drugs intended for disease treatment, making them new drugs without approval.
The claims on your website establish that the products are drugs under section 201(g)(1)(B) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the Act) [21 U.S.C. § 321(g)(1)(B)] because they are intended for use in the cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease.
02Labeling, claims & marketingProducts are not generally recognized as safe and effective, thus are new drugs without FDA approval.
Your products Nanoemulsified Milk Thistle, Cat’s Claw Elite, Nanoemulsified CoQ10 and Liposomal GABA with L Theanine are not generally recognized as safe and effective for the above-referenced uses and, therefore, the products are “new drugs” under section 201(p) of the Act [21 U.S.C. § 321(p)].
03Labeling, claims & marketing · 21 CFR 201.5Products fail to bear adequate directions for layperson use, rendering them misbranded.
A drug is misbranded under section 502(f)(1) of the Act [21 U.S.C. 352(f)(1)] if the drug fails to bear adequate directions for its intended use(s). “Adequate directions for use” means directions under which a layperson can use a drug safely and for the purposes for which it is intended (21 CFR 201.5).
What FDA requested
- Provide specific steps taken to address any violations
- Include an explanation of each step being taken to prevent the recurrence of violations
- Provide copies of related documentation
- If corrective actions cannot be completed within 15 working days, state the reason for the delay and the time within which you will do so
- If you believe products are not in violation, include reasoning and supporting information
FDA Warning Letter
31 paragraphs · 4 sectionsText as published on FDA.gov, retrieved Sep 8, 2026. Layout added for reading; the wording is FDA’s. View on FDA.gov (opens in a new tab)
1Introduction
2 paragraphs
This is to advise you that the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) reviewed your website at the internet address www.quicksilverscientific.com in June and September 2021 and has determined that you take orders there for the products Nanoemulsified Milk Thistle, Cat’s Claw Elite, Nanoemulsified CoQ10 and Liposomal GABA with L Theanine. The claims on your website establish that the products are drugs under section 201(g)(1)(B) of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act (the Act) [21 U.S.C. § 321(g)(1)(B)] because they are intended for use in the cure, mitigation, treatment, or prevention of disease. As explained further below, introducing or delivering these products for introduction into interstate commerce for such uses violates the Act. You can find the Act and FDA regulations through links on FDA’s home page at www.fda.gov.
Examples of some of the website claims that provide evidence that your products are intended for use as drugs include:
2Nanoemulsified CoQ10
5 paragraphs
QuickSilverScientific.com/Blog
• Eight Ways to a Healthy Heart, (which references the ingredient Coenzyme Q10 contained in the product Nanoemulsified CoQ10) “study on CoQ10 . . . found a 44% reduction in death from heart disease in heart failure patients supplemented with CoQ10, and a 42% reduction in death from any cause.”
• Holiday Hangovers: After All That Partying, Which Nutrients Do You Need the Most (which references the ingredient Coenzyme Q10 contained in the product Nanoemulsified CoQ10)
o “Feed Your Mitochondria with CoEnzyme Q10 . . .—breakthrough research into these tiny energy powerhouses that stud our cells has now connected them to . . . our ability to . . . directly fight pathogens and bacteria. If there is one nutrient that is essential for mitochondria, it is CoQ10.”
o “Alcohol can deplete CoQ10. Supplementing with this nutrient has been found to protect the liver from oxidative stress and improve inflammation associated with fatty infiltration of the liver. It has also been shown to protect the liver from alcohol-related damage.”
3Cat’s Claw Elite
4 paragraphs
QuickSilverScientific.com/Blog
• 6 Tips for having a Healthy, Happy Holiday Season
o “Vitamin D [an ingredient in Cat’s Claw Elite] supports immunity by increasing the activity of monocytes and macrophages, immune cells that directly fight pathogens, and by increasing the production of antimicrobial peptides . . ..”
o “Monolaurin [an ingredient in Cat’s Claw Elite] . . . has immune modulating properties and antimicrobial effects against a variety of bacteria and viruses.”
4Nanoemulsified Milk Thistle
11 paragraphs
QuickSilverScientific.com/Blog
• 6 Tips for having a Healthy, Happy Holiday Season
o “Milk thistle [an ingredient in Nanoemulsified Milk Thistle] . . . protects liver cells from the harmful effects of alcohol . . . Supplementing with milk thistle after a particularly indulgent holiday party may ease your discomfort and help you recover faster.” Liposomal GABA with L-Theanine product web page:
• “Stress and mental strain can . . . impair sleep. Return to a state of balance with . . . GABA + L-theanine . . ..”
Your products Nanoemulsified Milk Thistle, Cat’s Claw Elite, Nanoemulsified CoQ10 and Liposomal GABA with L Theanine are not generally recognized as safe and effective for the above-referenced uses and, therefore, the products are “new drugs” under section 201(p) of the Act [21 U.S.C. § 321(p)]. With certain exceptions not applicable here, new drugs may not be legally introduced or delivered for introduction into interstate commerce without prior approval from FDA, as described in sections 301(d) and 505(a) of the Act [21 U.S.C. 331(d), 355(a)]. FDA approves a new drug on the basis of scientific data and information demonstrating that the drug is safe and effective.
A drug is misbranded under section 502(f)(1) of the Act [21 U.S.C. 352(f)(1)] if the drug fails to bear adequate directions for its intended use(s). “Adequate directions for use” means directions under which a layperson can use a drug safely and for the purposes for which it is intended (21 CFR 201.5). Prescription drugs, as defined in section 503(b)(1)(A) of the Act [21 U.S.C. 353(b)(1)(A)], can only be used safely at the direction, and under the supervision, of a licensed practitioner.
Your Nanoemulsified Milk Thistle, Cat’s Claw Elite, Nanoemulsified CoQ10 and Liposomal GABA with L Theanine products are intended for treatment of one or more diseases that are not amenable to self-diagnosis or treatment without the supervision of a licensed practitioner. Therefore, it is impossible to write adequate directions for a layperson to use these products safely for their intended purposes. Accordingly, your Nanoemulsified Milk Thistle, Cat’s Claw Elite, Nanoemulsified CoQ10 and Liposomal GABA with L Theanine products fail to bear adequate directions for their intended uses and, therefore, the products are misbranded under section 502(f)(1) of the Act [21 U.S.C. § 352(f)(1)]. The introduction or delivery for introduction into interstate commerce of these misbranded drugs violates section 301(a) of the Act [21 U.S.C. § 331(a)].
This letter is not intended to be an all-inclusive statement of violations that may exist in connection with your products. You are responsible for investigating and determining the causes of any violations and for preventing their recurrence or the occurrence of other violations. It is your responsibility to ensure your firm complies with all requirements of federal law, including FDA regulations.
This letter notifies you of our concerns and provides you an opportunity to address them. Failure to adequately address this matter may result in legal action, including, without limitation, seizure and injunction.
Please notify FDA in writing, within 15 working days of receipt of this letter, of the specific steps you have taken to address any violations. Include an explanation of each step being taken to prevent the recurrence of violations, as well as copies of related documentation. If you cannot complete corrective actions within 15 working days, state the reason for the delay and the time within which you will do so. If you believe that your products are not in violation of the Act, include your reasoning and any supporting information for our consideration.
Your reply should be addressed to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration; Attn: Hanna L. Potter, Compliance Officer; 6th Ave and Kipling St, DFC Bldg. 20, PO Box 25087, Denver, Colorado, 80225-0087 or via email at hanna.potter@fda.hhs.gov. You may reach Ms. Potter at (303) 236-3094 if you have any questions about this matter.
Citations and trends
Each 21 CFR section, ISO 13485 clause and issue type in this letter, how often it appears across all letters, and its trend by the year FDA issued the letters. 2026 runs to Nov 3, 2026, compared with the same dates last year. Select a row or a bar to see those letters in Letters. As cited in this historical letter, not a statement of current requirements.
Regulations
Issue types
Record details
- Issuing center
- Office of Human and Animal Food Operations Division West 4
- Issuing office
- Office of Human and Animal Food Operations Division West 4
- Location
- Louisville, CO, United States
- Letter posted date
- Nov 9, 2021
- Letter issue date
- Oct 13, 2021
- Addressed to
- Not recorded
- Inspection dates · model-assisted
- Jun 1, 2021 to Sep 30, 2021
- Response window
- 15 working days after receipt of this letter
Read the source clause
Please notify FDA in writing, within 15 working days of receipt of this letter, of the specific steps you have taken to address any violations.
- Record length
- 1,073 words · 2 recorded redactions
- Published status
- Close-out published Oct 3, 2024
- Original letter
- View on FDA.gov (opens in a new tab)
- Dataset last checked
- Nov 11, 2026 · How this is built
A response window is not a calculated due date. Source excerpts are selected passages. Finding interpretations and categories are model-assisted. Verify the original letter before relying on a finding.