FDA must do more to regulate oversight of compounding operations

Fifty-one New Jersey residents became sick last fall when they received contaminated injections from a Massachusetts compounding pharmacy. Now state Attorney General Jeffrey Chiesa is bringing in experts to assist ongoing evaluations of New Jersey's compounding pharmacies (“State to call in drug experts to evaluate pharmacies").

New Jersey Public Interest Law Group’s new report on compounding, “Prescription for Danger,” found that five compounding pharmacies in New Jersey have been cited by the U.S. Food and Drug Administration for multiple violations during the last 10 years. Bad practices persist at compounding pharmacies because legal loopholes allow them to avoid the safety and oversight requirements that apply to Big Pharma. As our report shows, the FDA must exercise its regulatory oversight over all large-scale compounding operations.

Until that happens, compounding pharmacies will continue to threaten public health.

Jen Coleman, Advocate NJPIRG Trenton