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Our Campaign to Save Compounded Hormones is running out of money.
I did not ever expect that to be news I’d need to deliver to you as your APC Board Chair, but here we are.
For whatever reason, many compounders who invested previously in this effort did not invest in the past 12 months, putting at risk our ability to push back against FDA’s implicit threat to restrict compounded hormones. Which is kinda weird, because the threat persists.
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Maybe, because FDA has not moved ahead with restrictions in the three years since the manipulated NASEM report on compounded hormones landed with a thud, we’ve been lulled into thinking the threat is not real or that it’s gone away. But it hasn’t gone away. I would argue that our campaign, fueled by your investments over the past three years and the pressure that has been put on FDA, is the reason the threat has not yet materialized. But if we stop now, that pressure on FDA ceases, and all bets are off.
Without an infusion of support from folks like you, we will have exhausted all hormone campaign funds by March 31. Without additional funding:
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Efforts to engage patients in alerting their members of Congress about the threat will cease, and with it any push-back against FDA by members of Congress.
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Work to inform and engage prescribers in confronting the threat to essential compounded hormone therapies — they have a vested interest in supporting our efforts, of course — will end.
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Plans to subsidize the gathering of patient-reported outcomes data on compounded hormones by our member pharmacies will be scrapped – and with that, any hope of presenting compelling evidence to FDA demonstrating that compounded hormones do for patients what they purport to do.
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Plans to expand compounding.com — our campaign landing page that has attracted hundreds of thousands of page views and nearly 6,000 testimonials — into an “all things compounding” site for consumers will not be implemented.
In a survey two years ago, 77% of compounding pharmacy owners said compounded hormones were one of their top five business lines. If FDA succeeds in implementing restrictions, that business revenue goes away. More importantly, those patients you serve will be left with few alternatives.
We’ve got about six weeks to turn this around, so I’m asking for your help — NOW, not later. In fact, this is so urgent that I myself am investing $2,500 today.
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Please invest now — for the sake of your patients and business.
– Joe
Joseph P. Navarra, RPh, FACA, FAPC is the owner of Town Total Compounding Center in Woodbury, New York. You can reach him at joseph.navarra@towntotalcompound.com.
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Seriously, folks: Owner Summit room block is 88% full | |
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If you’re one of those owners or managers who’s thinking about registering for APC’s April 4-6 Owner Summit in La Jolla, Calif., you’d best think fast. The hotel room block at the Hilton La Jolla Torrey Pines is just about full. Wait much longer and you may not have a place to sleep — at least not a place on property for the conference.
We know you know it’s the don’t-miss event of the year for compounding pharmacy owners — this year with 30 presenters in more than 20 fast-paced sessions aimed at giving you dozens of ideas you take home and implement right away. Also, we’re hosting a golf tournament on one of the most extraordinary courses in the nation. All that plus great networking and a fantastic expo.
Find out more, and get registered — and yes, call the hotel and make your reservation … while you still can.
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Apply now for APC Fellowship
Are you committed to patient care through quality pharmacy compounding and the highest ethical and professional standards? If so, you should apply to be an APC Fellow.
Eddie DeCaria, co-owner of Porter’s Pharmacy and Compounding Lab in Moon Township, Pa., had this to say about being an APC Fellow:
“APC Fellowship is an honor that designates an individual as a specialist in the art of compounding. When a friend of mine suggested I apply because of my professional journey, I hesitated until I realized what an elite group of compounders APC Fellows are. Being a Fellow is an honor that has led me to a great network of other professionals and leaders in our community.
“My plan now as an APC Fellow is to mentor others to become specialists in the art of compounding. The more compounding specialists that are committed to ethics and quality compounding, the stronger our community. The stronger our community is, the more we can help the patients who need us.”
The deadline to apply for 2024 induction is March 31, so review the available information and start your application now. The induction will take place at APC’s Compounders on Capitol Hill event in September. And by the way, we’ve updated the application, so if you started one last year and didn’t submit it, make sure you’re using the new form.
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The number of APC Pharmacy-Facility Members continues to grow (and grow and grow). We’ve added 23 since November, bringing the total number to 162. We’re grateful for all our PFMs, but especially these brand spanking new ones:
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- Akina Pharmacy, Sterling, Va.
- Braun Pharma LLC, Chicago, Ill.
- Buderer Drug Co, Sandusky, Ohio
- Catoosa Family Pharmacy, Catoosa, Okla.
- Crestview Pharmacy LLC, Crestview, Fla.
- Enovex Pharmacy LLC, Glendale, Calif.
- Formulation Compounding Center, Lewisville, Texas
- Healthway Compounding Pharmacy, Saginaw, Mich.
- Healthy Choice Compounding, Elmsford, N.Y.
- Hook’s Apothecary, Evansville, Ind.
- Midwest Compounders Pharmacy, Lenexa, Kan.
- Mixlab Inc, New York, N.Y.
- Oakdell Pharmacy, San Antonio, Texas
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- Olive Tree Compounding Pharmacy, Rio Rancho, N.M.
- Optio Rx LLC, Oak Brook, Ill.
- Porter’s Pharmacy and Compounding Lab, East Liverpool, Ohio
- Reliant Compounded Solutions, Monroe, Conn.
- SBH Medical, Ltd., Worthington, Ohio
- SMC Pharmacy LLC, Santa Monica, Calif.
- Stark Pharmacy, Overland, Park, Kan.
- Stone Oak Pharmacy, San Antonio, Texas
- Summit Health Pharmacy Inc, Media, Penn.
- The Pet Apothecary LLC, Milwaukee, Wisc.
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If you're licensed in NY State, you may want to be aware of this
As you know, New York currently requires pharmacists to directly supervise any pharmacy technicians who are compounding. What you may not know is that companion bills (S 1050a and A 8115a) have been introduced in the state legislature that would remove that requirement, making it much easier for technicians to participate in compounding.
There is a compounder town hall to discuss advocacy strategies for the bills next Thursday, February 29 at 11am ET. You can join the call here.
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Next month
This year
On demand
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Alliance for Pharmacy Compounding | A4PC.org | APC is committed to addressing any concerns or complaints within one business day. Please send them — and, of course, any compliments — to info@a4pc.org. |
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