Beginning next week, we will begin a series on "Pharmaceutical Compounding Questions and Answers" that will be derived from questions being asked by compounding pharmacists and compounding technicians.

All questions will be handled confidentially and only the subject matter will be addressed in this Newsletter series. Please send any questions you would like to have addressed, and they will be presented in the newsletter using current information, interpretations, and some opinions (which will be indicated as such).

Each question discussed will be documented and additional resources will be used to support responses.

Please address any questions to the following email address:

lallen@ijpc.com

Questions regarding insurance, billing, clinical experiences, etc. are not the purpose of this series; rather, questions on compounding techniques/technology, formulations, calculations, regulations, standards, etc., and physicochemical issues.

Thanks, and it is hoped this approach will be beneficial to all.

Loyd V. Allen, Jr., PhD, RPh
Editor-in-Chief
International Journal of Pharmaceutical Compounding
Remington: The Science and Practice of Pharmacy Twenty-second edition

News

Recently, a couple of interesting articles have appeared in pharmacy journals, as follows:

Increasing Interest in Nonpharmacy Facilities Doing Sterile Compounding. See the article at:

http://www.ajhp.org/content/74/13/954.1?sso-checked=true

Increasing Interest in "Pharmacy Education" and the "Real World". See the article at:

http://www.drugtopics.com/blog/pharmacy-students-arent-ready-real-world

Editor's Note: One added note on this last article, with the dramatic increase in pharmaceutical compounding, academia must incorporate more formulations, pharmaceutics, calculations, and pharmaceutical chemistry in the curriculum. Most graduating pharmacy students are inadequately prepared to step into a compounding pharmacy facility whether it is in a hospital, community pharmacy, or specialty pharmacy.

Sandoz to Launch EpiPen Alternative Symjepi in Early 2019
Just days after Teva launched its generic to Mylan's EpiPen, Novartis' Sandoz has released launch plans for its own epinephrine injector product; Symjepi was approved by the FDA in September and the company announced it will launch in early 2019 at a slight discount of 16% to options from Mylan and Teva. Sandoz's two-pack will hit the market with a list price of $250, while Teva and Mylan injectors cost $300 for a two-pack.
https://www.fiercepharma.com/pharma/sandoz-preps-early-2019-launch-for-epipen-alternative-symjepi-at-16-discount

Did You Know ...

�that Mark Twain said the following?

"If you don't read the newspaper you are uninformed, if you do read the newspaper you are misinformed."

Tip of the Week

It's a sad state still today that we cannot depend upon the news media for truthful, factual reporting. Instead, it seems journalists are taught to be "investigative reporters" and become both the "trial and jury," and others may try to report the news but with their own bias or they report it the way they wish it was!

We may be observing the eventual downfall of the "freedom of the press" if things don't turn around. After all, with "freedom" comes "responsibility"�if one is not "responsible," they may lose their "freedom."

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Looking Back

When frisky
With whiskey,
Don't drive,
'Cause it's risky!
     Burma Shave