FDA and States Seek Greater Authority over Compounding Pharmacies Following Meningitis OutbreakThe October 2012 fungal meningitis outbreak at a Framingham, Massachusetts sterile compounding pharmacy has triggered a focus by the Federal Food and Drug Administration (FDA) on sterile compounding pharmacies that do not comply with federal and state regulatory requirements. In recent FDA enforcement actions, inspectors identified dozens of dangerous safety violations at 30 specialized pharmacies, and expressed resolve to “take aggressive action” against compounding pharmacies. (1)

Following on the heels of increasing FDA enforcement, state regulators across the country are focusing enforcement efforts on sterile compounding pharmacies as well. Although the fungal meningitis outbreak in Framingham related to safety problems, state compliance concerns extend beyond tainted medications to a wide range of other compliance issues affecting sterile compounding pharmacies, including Medicare and other FDA requirements.

On May 15, the introduction of the Pharmaceutical Compounding Quality and Accountability Act (PCQA) served as the most recent example of the expanded focus on sterile compounding pharmacies. The PCQA clarifies the oversight responsibilities of state and federal authorities for compounding pharmaceuticals. Under the PCQA, the FDA would be given regulatory oversight over “compounding manufacturers” –entities that make sterile products with a prescription and sell them across state lines, while states would have oversight over traditional compounding pharmacies. The PCQA would require compounding manufacturers to register with the FDA, report serious adverse events, and comply with quality standards. Other proposals by lawmakers have called for a similar expansion of regulatory powers for the FDA over compounding pharmacies. (2)

In addition to the PCQA requirements, state compounding pharmacies need to be mindful of state regulatory priorities. For California pharmacies, the Pharmacy Board of California is paying greater attention to compliance with its own regulations governing sterile compounding. One of the most frequently cited deficiencies during Board inspections, for example, is written policy and procedure manuals that are not current and precise or that fail to explain in detail the processes used to compound sterile drugs. Other deficiencies include the failure to determine the risk level of sterile products being compounded, the failure to verify sterilization techniques, failing to document personnel training, and failing to establish “Beyond Use Dates” (BUD) for sterile products.

Compliance with compounding requirements also has serious implications for Medicare providers utilizing compounded drugs in their practice. Currently, Medicare Part B will pay for compounded drugs that meet the criteria for coverage. However, the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) has taken an aggressive position in recent years to prevent fraud, enforcing the False Claims Act against providers and pharmacies found submitting false or fraudulent claims related to compounded drugs.

Amid the heightened scrutiny and changing landscape of government enforcement, it is important for pharmacies to review their compliance plans for potential exposure to liability. Compounding pharmacies would be well advised to increase their compliance efforts to ensure that they are managing evolving risks effectively and working proactively to prevent problems that may trigger government audits and investigations.

Farooq Mir is an associate with Nelson Hardiman and works with California Pharmacies on Compliance with state and federal regulations. For further information, please contact him at [email protected].

 

(1)http://www.fda.gov/Drugs/GuidanceComplianceRegulatoryInformation/PharmacyCompounding /ucm347722.htm

(2)The Verifying Authority and Legality in Drug (VALID) Compounding Act, introduced by Congressman Edward Markey on May 23, 2013 as H.R. 2186, for example, proposes FDA regulation of both sterile and non-sterile products produced by compounding pharmacies.