Woburn drug maker may stop making sterile injections

By Kay Lazar and Chelsea Conaboy

 |  GLOBE STAFF   

  APRIL 02, 2013

The owner of a Woburn specialty pharmacy that recalled two dozen drugs after the discovery of ­unidentified contaminants told regulators Tuesday that he was uncertain whether he would continue mixing sterile injectable medications and eye solutions, the riskiest kind of compounded drugs.

Making his first public appearance since last month’s recall, James Nahill, owner of ­Pallimed Solutions Inc., testified for more than two hours before the Massachusetts Board of Registration in Pharmacy about three problems found earlier. They included production of a super-potent batch of painkillers last year that left two patients hospitalized.

As Nahill was grilled by regulators, legislators on Beacon Hill reviewed proposals to more tightly regulate the compounding industry following last year’s ­national fungal meningitis outbreak. ­Steroids made by New England Compounding Center in Framingham sickened 730 people, including 51 who died.

The Joint Committee on Public Health is reviewing several bills on compounding pharmacies, which custom mix drugs for patients who need doses or formulations not available off-the-shelf. Legislation proposed by Governor Deval Patrick would, among other things, change the makeup of the Pharmacy Board to include more members who are not pharmacists and require pharmacies located out of state to be licensed in Massachusetts before distributing drugs here.

 

At the pharmacy board meeting, Nahill — between sometimes flippant and evasive answers — said that an inspection of his facility by federal and state regulators March 22 has made him a better compounder.

“Despite the obvious elephant in the room, the Board of Pharmacy and FDA inspections have been enlightening,” Nahill said.

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