American Academy of Ophthalmology Issues Statement on Provisions to Pharmaceutical Compounding Quality and Accountability Act

WASHINGTON, May 29, 2013 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- As legislation to toughen oversight of compounding pharmaceuticals goes to the Senate floor for further debate, ophthalmologists are warning Congress of the unintended consequences of proposed provisions to the bill that require a named prescription for many uses of compounded drugs. While it is largely supportive of the higher safety standards bill S. 959 (the Pharmaceutical Compounding Quality and Accountability Act) would impose on compounding pharmacies and manufacturers, the American Academy of Ophthalmology is seeking exemptions from Sections 503A(d)(4) for biological products and 503A(d)(3) for marketed drugs to allow for continued office use of safe, sterile compounded ophthalmic drugs without a specific patient designation. The Academy points out that there is no evidence to suggest that labeling a drug with a patient's name increases the safety of the repackaging process.

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"Safe, sterile compounded medications have long been essential tools available to ophthalmologists for urgent treatment of eye diseases and conditions, benefitting millions of patients," said David W. Parke II , M.D., CEO of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. "The American Academy of Ophthalmology shares the concerns of Congress regarding the need to ensure that these products are compounded in the most sterile and safest manner possible in order to protect public health. As part of that process, however, the Academy urges the continued availability of these sight-saving medications without requiring patient-specific prescriptions, as time is often a critical element in preventing irreversible blindness. The Academy believes that compounding can be done in a safe and efficacious manner and support Congress in ensuring the safe availability of these medications for eye physicians and surgeons and the patients they serve."

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