Methodology
This white paper provides an overview of the complex, modern pharmaceutical supply chain from manufacturing through distribution of the finished drug, and advances proposed policy solutions to help reduce the risks of counterfeit, adulterated and substandard drugs. It was prepared to inform, and incorporates the outcomes of, a Pew Health Group stakeholder conference on policy reforms to ensure the safety of the U.S. pharmaceutical supply, held on March 14 and 15, 2011, in Washington, D.C.
The paper draws on publicly available sources of information, including FDA documents, U.S. Government Accountability Office reports, Congressional testimony, peer-reviewed journal articles and commercial publications, as well as in-depth background interviews with a wide range of supply chain experts and stakeholders. Roundtable participants included representatives of the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA), state regulators, the United States Pharmacopeial Convention (USP), pharmaceutical manufacturing and distribution trade associations, the retail pharmacy industry, medical and pharmacy professional associations, consumer groups and individual supply chain experts. The final paper has been reviewed by nine external reviewers.
Complete lists of roundtable participants, expert interviews and reviewers, as well as the conference agenda, are appended. Video of the conference presentations and discussions is available on the Pew Prescription Project website.
The conclusions and recommendations herein are those of The Pew Charitable Trusts and may not reflect those of individual sources, reviewers, or roundtable participants.
Pew sent a comment letter to the Senate Committee on Health, Education, Labor and Pensions on the Pharmaceutical Compounding Quality and Accountability Act. This bill takes steps toward clarifying state and federal oversight of compounding, including an important increase in FDA supervision of certain activities—specifically, the compounding of sterile medicines that are shipped interstate.
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Representative Edward Markey, a Democrat from Massachusetts, on Thursday became the latest lawmaker to propose legislation that would give the U.S. Food and Drug Administration greater regulatory authority over drug compounding.
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On Thursday, May 23, the House Energy & Commerce Subcommittee on Health held a hearing, entitled "Examining Drug Compounding." Gabrielle Cosel, a drug safety expert, testified on the need to clarify oversight of compounding pharmacies on the state and federal level.
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Public health and consumer advocacy groups are attacking Senate legislation designed to tighten oversight of specialized pharmacies such as the one at the center of this past fall’s deadly meningitis outbreak, saying it does not adequately address health risks.
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An Ohio legislator’s plan to establish a nationwide prescription drug tracking system to protect patients from fake drugs was approved by the House Commerce Committee.
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