The voice for pharmacy compounding | August 6, 2021
From APC’s President
The personal connection
Michael Blaire, RPh, FIACP
APC President
Last week I had the extreme pleasure of celebrating my daughter's wedding, a destination event that took place in the tropical rainforest of Jaco, Costa Rica.
As I viewed the surroundings, I briefly thought back to pharmacy school and Natural Products class (what we called pharmacognosy). Although I spent most of my time in Natural Products class sleeping, at this moment I was awestruck by the debt that we, as pharmacists, have to the rainforest. Theobroma oil (or cocoa butter), derived from cocoa beans, is the original suppository base, preceding PolyBASE and Fattyblend by hundreds of years. Curare, derived from rainforest plants, is the precursor of all current day neuromuscular blocking agents. And, of course, where would any of us be without the coffee plant's wonder drug, caffeine? One can only wonder what medical miracles still await discovery. I can only wonder what else I might have learned in Natural Products had I drank more caffeine.
Following the wedding, my wife and I decided to tour other parts of the country. After a few days we found ourselves in the mountain region known as Monteverde, an isolated area that boasts the best ziplining in the world. Unfortunately, as the result of some kind of insect bite, I developed a major infection under my arm, requiring me to visit the local physician.
Dr. Hernandez spoke some English, and I leaned heavily on four years of high school Spanish, so we were able to communicate effectively. As he prepared an IV infusion for me, he asked what work I did. I pointed, and said, "eso (that)."
In broken Spanish I explained that I was a compounding pharmacist, and that I made custom medications for patients just as he was doing. I received four doses of medication over four days, and was impressed by the quality of care that I received. Dr. Hernandez even opened his office to meet me at 8:00am Sunday to give me a dose of medication before I left town. It reminded me of some of what our U.S. healthcare system has lost over the years, but what we, as independent, community, compounding pharmacists still provide. Let's make sure we never lose that personal connection with our patients.
Michael Blaire is APC’s president, but his day job is vice president for government and regulatory affairs at Wedgewood Pharmacy in Scottsdale, Arizona. You can reach him at mblaire@wedgewoodpharmacy.com.
This Week
Call for nominations: APC Board of Directors
How would you like to help lead the Alliance as we continue our new era of growth and influence?
We’re seeking passionate, informed, influential compounding leaders to do just that as members of the APC Board of Directors.
The volunteer position entails a combination of strategic thinking, engagement with a variety of stakeholders, helping allocate our resources to get the most bang for our buck, and even some occasional crystal ball-reading.
Sure, the profession has plenty of challenges — that’s what makes this so rewarding. We want your knowledge and leadership ability to work on behalf of all compounding professionals.
There are six board seats available for the 2022 Board of Directors, in regions II, V, VI, plus one at-large seat. And — besides being a current APC member — there are some requirements. Learn the details, and if you've got what it takes, submit your nomination by 11:59pm EDT on Monday, August 23, 2021. Click here for all the information. Voting will begin in October.
Got questions about the nominating process? Drop us a note at info@a4pc.org.
You're the best lobbyist for your compounding practice. Join us for these Capitol Hill congressional visits, and help make a difference — at APC’s Compounders on Capitol Hill, November 2–3 in Washington, DC.
Some cBHT campaign ads suspended
No, you didn’t misread the headline. In an effort to preserve our remaining cBHT media campaign funds, we’ve suspended digital ad placements for the month of August and will likely need to do the same for December.
The support for this campaign by pharmacy compounders and vendors like you has been extraordinary, and we have come so, so close to our $1.5 million goal — and we’ve done it in just eight months. It’s pretty amazing.
But now, it all comes down to needing that last $35,000 — not only to help us achieve the campaign goal, but to fully fund those all-important digital ad placements through year-end. It’s those placements, remember, that are driving patients and policymakers to compounding.com, where they’re learning more about the threat to compounded hormones.
The campaign is hitting its marks. Our digital ads are popping up all over — we hope you’ve seen them, like this one that ran last Saturday morning in the New York Times online:
It may be that you have already invested in this campaign to save cBHT. If so, thank you, sincerely.
But if you have not yet given — and compounded hormones are a significant business line for your pharmacy or outsourcing facility — now is the time to step up.
With that additional $35k, we can reactivate our August campaign plans — and get the job done for the year.
Cheri Garvin named to Virginia BoP
Congrats to APC member Cheri Garvin, RPh, of Leesburg, Va., owner of the Compounding Center — she was just named to the state’s board of pharmacy by Governor Ralph Northam.
“With pharmacy compounders unrepresented or under-represented on so many state boards of pharmacy, this is an important appointment in Virginia,” said APC’s CEO Scott Brunner. “We salute Governor Northam and congratulate Cheri Garvin on her appointment.”
Strong language in Senate approps bill
There's strong language about animal compounding in the proposed Senate's Ag/FDA appropriation bill. That's thanks in part to APC's work with the Senate Appropriations Committee to have senators include a strong admonition to FDA to not exceed what the statute allows related to proposed guidance on animal compounding from pure ingredients.
The committee note to the FDA appropriation reads as follows:
Animal Drug Compounding. The Committee is concerned that the Guidance for Industry [GFI] #256, Compounding Animal Drugs from Bulk Drug Substances, issued on November 20, 2019, raises similar issues to the GFI #230, which has been withdrawn. The Committee encourages the FDA to draft and finalize guidance on compounding animal drugs that is consistent with statutory authority and will ensure access to appropriate treatment is available for veterinarians, animal shelters, zoos and other stakeholders.
The bill awaits action by the Senate.
A congressional visit with a Washington pharmacy
APC member Dawn Ipsen of Kusler’s Compounding Pharmacy in Snohomish, Wash., arranged a pharmacy visit with Cameron Caldwell, the northwest Washington outreach director for U.S. Senator Maria Cantwell. "We had a fabulous visit and informative conversation," Dawn said, that included an introduction to compounding, a facility tour, and a visit to the pharmacy’s NIOSH lab where they were making various compounded hormones.
"It piqued his attention when I mentioned the importance of progesterone suppositories and the risk of the FDA making it illegal to compound such products," Dawn said — good news for our cBHT campaign. She also discussed the FDA’s MOU with states, and why it’s important to delay enforcement.
This kind of face-to-face meeting is the best way to get legislators' attention on our most important issues. If you've never met with your senator or representative, now’s a great time — they’re on recess. Check out our handy guide for setting up a visit, then invite your member of Congress for a tour!
Short Takes
Did you give $5,000 or more to APC’s cBHT media campaign? If so (and if you haven’t already) don’t forget to send us the information we need to create your two free customized "Compounding the Joy of Living" videos. If you can’t find the emails in your overflowing inbox, we understand — just drop us a note at info@a4pc.org.
Looking up: Once again, U.S. healthcare is ranked last among the world’s 11 highest-income nations by the annual Commonwealth Fund report, thanks to our low ratings for access, equity, and even "Health care outcomes." The only area we do well in (#2, in fact) is "Care process" — that is, "measures of preventive care, safe care, coordinated care, and engagement and patient preferences."
Lyme shot: Human clinical trials are underway for Lyme PrEP — an annual antibody shot against Lyme disease. Unlike a vaccine, Lyme PrEP delivers a single antibody that’s designed to last about nine months with minimal side effects. It could be available as soon as 2023 or 2024.
Coming Up
October 20–23 — PCCA ISTX, Houston
October 26 — 2:00–3:00pm EDT — APC CE: Modern-day Cyber-security Threats for Pharmacies
November 2–3 — Compounders on Capitol Hill, Washington, D.C.
November 5–6 — Quality Compounding Summit (virtual)
November 8–10 — Informa Connect’s Compounding Pharmacy Compliance East In Person, Silver Springs, Md.
November 15–17 — Informa Connect’s Compounding Pharmacy Compliance East Virtual
