Two drug companies supported by Green Bay Packers legend Brett Favre “overstated their NFL connections and exaggerated the known effectiveness of their drugs during efforts to raise money,” according to ESPN’s Mark Fainaru-Wada.
Favre also allegedly helped the founder of both companies, Jacob VanLandingham, secure $2 million in funding for his drugs from the same Mississippi nonprofit Favre used to help fund a college volleyball stadium at his daughter’s school.
That money was earmarked for Mississippi welfare families, and the heads of that nonprofit have already pleaded guilty to misusing and improperly distributing those funds.
Favre exaggerated connections?
An NFL spokesperson confirmed the league office was contacted by Prevacus but that was as deep as the partnership went. The spokesperson denied Sills or Jeff Miller, the executive vice president for health and safety innovation, worked with Prevacus in any advisory capacity.
As for the drugs themselves, those benefits were also exaggerated, according to the network’s report. ESPN spoke to numerous scientists regarding the claims about the nasal spray and the cream, and all said that the science doesn’t match what VanLandingham said the drugs would do.
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Neither one has been extensively tested on humans and there is no data that supports claims that the nasal spray could reduce swelling from a traumatic brain injury or that the cream can prevent or limit concussions.
The drug had not been tested in humans
Favre is one of dozens of individuals being sued by the state of Mississippi for misappropriating welfare funds. Text messages obtained by Anna Wolfe of Mississippi Today show Favre, former Mississippi Governor Phil Bryant, nonprofit founder Nancy New and former welfare agency director John Davis worked together to funnel at least $5 million of the state’s welfare funds toward construction of a volleyball stadium at the University of Southern Mississippi, Favre’s alma mater. Favre’s daughter also played volleyball at the school.
But, ESPN dug up various interviews in which VanLandingham and Favre applied the cream to themselves and described the process of how it treats a concussion, even though the drug had not been fully tested on humans.
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