Content about Compounding

ALEXANDRIA, Va. — Rep. Edward Markey, D-Mass., on Thursday announced plans to introduce legislation that would strengthen federal regulations of compounding pharmacies. The legislation is borne out of the recent meningitis outbreak linked to the New England Compounding Center, which is located in Markey's district, that has drawn much criticism on how regulators oversee compounding pharmacies.

BELLEVUE, Wash. — A division of Wolters Kluwer Health has released a new version of a Web-based quality-assurance software for pharmacy compounding.

Pharmacy OneSource announced the release of a new version of Simplifi 797, used for ensuring compliance with USP chapter 797 regulations, which call for proper training of staff who prepare sterile compounded products.

NEW YORK — Members of Congress are calling for an inquiry into compounding pharmacies amid a meningitis outbreak that has infected 119 people and killed 11, according to published reports.

LAS VEGAS — Three successful pharmacy innovators helped set a buoyant tone for the official kickoff of McKesson’s ideaShare 2012 conference here, as they shared success stories from their own community practice settings at a panel discussion hosted by Brian Tyler, president of McKesson U.S. Pharmaceutical.

NEW YORK — One of the first lessons in life that children learn is that getting sick isn’t fun, and going to the pharmacy isn’t too exciting either. In 2004, pharmacist Charles Tabouchirani decided to change that by opening Cherry’s Pharmacy, a store that specializes in dealing with children.

NASHVILLE, Tenn. — The National Community Pharmacists Association on Sunday named Eddie Glover, president and CEO of U.S. Compounding in Conway, Ark., the recipient of the 2011 Willard B. Simmons Independent Pharmacist of the Year award.

PHOENIX — Specialty pharmacy provider The Apothecary Shops made a big jump in Inc. magazine's list of the country's fastest-growing private companies, the chain said Wednesday.

The Apothecary Shops ranked No. 1,640 in the annual "Inc. 5000" list, 754 spots higher than in 2010, and 1,076 higher than in 2009.

"The fact that we continue moving up on the 'Inc. 5000' list reflects the focus, hard work and commitment of our entire team, especially in a struggling economy," Apothecary Shops president Keith Cook said.

NEW YORK — Nine people died in Alabama last month after taking a compounded injectable supplement contaminated with bacteria, according to published reports.

The New York Times reported that the patients died of infections with Serratia marcescens bacteria in hospitals after receiving the intravenously administered supplement total parenteral nutrition from the Birmingham, Ala.-based compounding pharmacy Meds IV Pharmacy.

SILVER SPRING, Md. — Usually, when the Food and Drug Administration approves a commercial version of a drug, it prohibits compounding pharmacies from producing it, but it’s making an exception in the case of a drug used to prevent premature births.

ALEXANDRIA, Va. The National Community Pharmacists Association Tuesday unveiled its complete list of newly installed officers and executive committee members for 2010-2011. All are practicing pharmacists who will serve one-year terms.

The independent pharmacy group tapped the new slate of leaders at its 112th Annual Convention and Trade Exposition, held Oct. 23 to 27 in Philadelphia.