Editorial: IJPC-APhA Strategic Alliance

An alliance between the International Journal of Pharmaceutical Compounding (IJPC) and the American Pharmacists Association (APhA) has been formed. The Alliance should be beneficial to both parties and serve to promote the profession of pharmacy and support its professional and scientific activities.

Some considerations that may be involved in this alliance include the following:

1. Advertising
2. Educational programming
3. Exhibit space at APhA meetings
4. Support for the Student APhA activities in the form of programs, materials, etc. for local, regional, and national meetings
5. Support in professional and governmental activities
6. Promotion of subscriptions and products (including IJPC print/electronic, CompoundingToday.com, and other products)
7. Marketing materials promoting both organizations
8. Assistance in becoming MEDLINE listed
9. Listing as a journal of APhA
10. Each organization to remain as autonomous bodies
11. APhA members can participate in the IJPC Compounders' Network List and a second could be implemented covering a different topic area if desired.
12. Other activities as agreed upon by both parties

This is a great opportunity for both organizations. The future of pharmacy practice is projected to include an even greater emphasis on individualized pharmaceutical care, involving compounding of patient-specific medications, whether they are related to traditional, high-tech, biotech or nanotech compounding, as well as pharmacogenomic testing or other new developments in the field. Both organizations are committed to promoting quality pharmaceutical compounding in whatever practice site is involved.


Loyd V. Allen, Jr., PhD, RPh

Senate Resolution Introduced
Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas) has introduced S. CON. RES. 88, a concurrent resolution expressing the sense of Congress that the U.S. Food and Drug Administration's (FDA) new policy restricting women's access to medications containing estriol does not serve the public interest. This resolution is the Senate counterpart to H. Con. Res. 342, the House Resolution on estriol introduced in early May.

The goal of the International Academy of Compounding Pharmacy (IACP) concerning this matter is to encourage Senators to sign on as co-sponsors to S. Con. Res. 88. The IACP public affairs team is busy drafting action alerts and other outreach materials to inform pharmacists, patients, and physicians of this news. In addition, Compounders on Capitol Hill yielded a number of new co-sponsors for H. Con. Res. 342.

Discontinued Drugs
The FDA has announced that the following drugs will soon be discontinued:

• Cortisporin Otic Suspension (neomycin and polymyxin B sulfates and hydrocortisone otic suspension, USP).
  [U.S. Food & Drug Administration; June 5, 2008]
• Intal Nebulizer Solution (Cromolyn sodium inhalation solution, USP)
  [U.S. Food & Drug Administration; June 2, 2008]
• Kemadrin (Procyclidine hydrochloride)
  [U.S. Food & Drug Administration; June 5, 2008]
• Important Information About Albuterol Metered Dose Inhalers (MDIs) After December 31, 2008, albuterol CFC MDIs are prohibited from being sold or distributed in the United States. Patients are encouraged to talk with healthcare providers about transitioning to albuterol MDIs without CFCs.
  [U.S. Food & Drug Administration; May 30, 2008]

Drugs with Serious Problems

• Regranex (Johnson & Johnson), a foot ulcer medication, can heighten the risk of patients dying from cancer. Consequently, a new warning that is shown on the box of this medication states that patients who used three or more tubes of Regranex over a 20-month period were five times more likely to die of cancer.
  (ASHP Daily Briefing; June 9, 2008)
• Eleven deaths and 80 nonfatal adverse events have been tied to medical devices that contain heparin. Both Baxter and Medtronics have voluntarily recalled products that may contain the possibly contaminated heparin.
  (ASHP Daily Briefing; June 6 and June 9, 2008)
• The FDA is considering adding warnings for suicidal behavior risks to a large class of epilepsy drugs that are also used for a variety of other conditions. The drug companies are trying to convince the FDA to not take this action.
  (ASHP Daily Briefing; June 4, 2008)
• Older patients with dementia that started receiving either risperidone, olanzapine, quetiapine, haloperidol, loxapine, or thioridazine antipsychotics were about 2 to almost 4 times more likely to be hospitalized or die within 30 days vs similar adults not receiving these drugs.
  (ASHP Daily Briefing; June 4, 2008)

The 2008 version of the USP Pharmacists' Pharmacopeia contains all the USP Chapters pertinent to pharmacy practice as well as chapters referenced in Chapters <795> and <797>. It contains both the 2004 and 2008 versions of Chapter <797>. This is particularly helpful for those who would like to compare the two versions. The book also contains sections from the Food Chemicals Codes (FCC) about food ingredients and flavoring for those who use flavors a lot in compounding. The other important section is the legal requirements and laws. Several official preparation monographs are included along with abbreviated versions of drug substance monographs from United States Pharmacopeia 31-National Formulary 26 of 2008. This makes the book a one-stop book to get all information necessary when compounding preparations. It can be purchased at: www.usp.org.

According to the Federal Trade Commission, several pharmaceutical companies created deals in 2007 that delayed the introduction of cheaper generic competitor drugs on the market.
(ASHP Newslink; June 2, 2008)

Lens Cleaning Recommendations
Recommend that patients change their contact lens soaking solution daily and to clean and/or replace the contact lens holders. Reason: Hundreds of eye infections have been reported in the last two years due to re-use of the same solution.