Army signed contract with firm linked to source of meningitis outbreak

By Walter F. Roche, The Tennessean
NASHVILLE, Tenn. -- The U.S. Army recently signed an exclusive, five-year purchasing agreement with a Massachusetts company that has shut down in the midst of a meningitis outbreak.
The sole-source purchase agreement with Ameridose LLC was issued June 29 by the U.S. Army Medical Command. The contract is to supply specialized compounded pharmaceutical products for the pediatric intensive care unit at the Army's Tripler Medical Center in Honolulu.
Ameridose voluntarily halted production last week at its Westborough, Mass., plant under an agreement with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration and the Massachusetts Health Department.
Ameridose has the same owners as New England Compounding Center, named as the source of tainted steroids linked to the nation's ongoing meningitis outbreak where 15 people have died and 214 people have been sickened in 15 states.
While Ameridose agreed to a 12-day shutdown to allow its 70,000-square-foot facility to be inspected, the company was not required to recall any of its products. New England Compounding has recalled all of its products.

Continue reading here