While facing the challenges of investigating and prosecuting complex, global operations, federal agencies in the United States continue to take action against Web sites illegally distributing prescription drugs to US consumers. A new report from the Government Accountability Office (GAO) reviews how such sites violate federal and state laws and the challenges of investigating them, […]

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The American Medical Association (AMA) has adopted a resolution stating that the organization deems certain pharmacy inquiries relating to the verification of prescriptions to be “an interference with the practice of medicine and unwarranted.” AMA’s resolution, as adopted at its 2013 annual meeting, specifies that inquiries about the rationale behind prescriptions, diagnoses, and treatment plans […]

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A ruling by Judge Edward R. Korman, Eastern District Court of New York, will effectively make the Plan B® One-Step, or “morning after” contraceptive pill, available as an over-the-counter product with no age restrictions, reports the New York Times. As part of the implementation process, the drug’s manufacturer, Teva Pharmaceuticals, must submit a supplemental new […]

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The Tennessee Board of Pharmacy has implemented a new rule that will effectively enable the Board to act more quickly when a potential safety issue at a facility engaged in compounding is detected. As indicated in a news release from the Board, the rule will “expedite suspension of sterile compounding by a pharmacy or manufacturer […]

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United States Representative Edward Markey (D-MA) filed an updated version of the Verifying Authority and Legality in Drug (VALID) Compounding Act of 2013 on May, 23, 2013. The bill would give FDA sole authority over compounding pharmacies that ship products across state lines and engage in high-risk sterile compounding. States would retain authority over small […]

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Pharmacists in Pennsylvania would be granted authority to vaccinate patients above the age of seven with a parent’s consent under two bills being considered by the Pennsylvania General Assembly. The bills would also allow pharmacy interns to vaccinate under the supervision of a pharmacist. The bills, HB 776 and SB 819, are in the professional licensure […]

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NABP expressed its support for federal legislation that would distinguish between compounding and manufacturing, in testimony (PDF) presented at a United States House subcommittee hearing on May 23, 2013. The hearing, “Examining Drug Compounding” was held to provide US Committee on Energy and Commerce Health Subcommittee members an opportunity to hear testimony from Food and […]

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Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) has issued a final order temporarily placing three synthetic cannabinoids into Schedule I of the Controlled Substances Act. By classifying these products as Schedule I drugs, all applicable criminal, civil, and administrative penalties, sanctions, and regulatory controls may be imposed on the manufacture, distribution, possession, importation, and exportation of the drugs. […]

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The Missouri Board of Pharmacy will be allowed to test drugs in pharmacy inventories under a new law just signed by Missouri Governor Jay Nixon. Under the new law, the Board will have the authority to establish a program for testing drugs, including compounded drugs, held by licensees. Board personnel currently may enter and inspect […]

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Reaching a critical milestone in the generic Top-Level Domain (gTLD) approval process, the National Association of Boards of Pharmacy® (NABP®) application to own and operate the .PHARMACY domain suffix has passed the Internet Corporation for Assigned Names and Numbers (ICANN) initial evaluation. NABP intends to launch the .PHARMACY gTLD by the end of 2013, and […]

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