APC Launches Shortage Drug Source to Connect Hospitals with Compounders

The Alliance for Pharmacy Compounding (APC) announced the launch of its free resource, which serves as a liaison between hospitals with 503B outsourcing facilities, or 503A sterile compounding pharmacies, that can supply treatments currently in shortage due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

APC’s Compounders’ Shortage Drug Source for Hospitals mimics its earlier online bulletin board, which connected dermatologists and rheumatologists with compounders who possessed hydroxychloroquine supplies. Hydroxychloroquine is necessary for treatment of individuals with lupus and rheumatoid arthritis; however, the drug is currently in shortage due to its status as a potential treatment option for COVID-19 infection.

The news release provided information to hospitals interested in utilizing the resource:

• FDA-registered 503B outsourcing facilities and qualified, board of pharmacy-approved 503A sterile compounders may provide the resource with information about their available supplies. Only those shortage drugs listed by FDA in appendices to its recent temporary guidance document for 503Bs and 503As may be listed.

• Data submitted by outsourcing facilities and 503A pharmacies will post this information for hospitals to access. The primary page will list 503Bs that are compounding shortage drugs listed by FDA in appendices to its recent temporary guidance document.

• If hospitals are unable to source the needed drug(s) from a 503B, they may access a secondary page listing information submitted by 503A pharmacies about shortage drugs they can prepare per FDA's recent temporary guidance document.

• APC has asked the American Hospital Association (AHA) and the American Society of Health System Pharmacists (ASHP) to make its hospital members aware of the resource and share the webpage credentials.

"Our aim is to alleviate patient suffering and even death by speeding the connection between hospitals in need of COVID treatment medications and the compounders who can supply those drugs," said APC President Shawn Hodges, owner of Innovation Compounding in Kennesaw, Georgia. "We're grateful to the FDA for recent temporary guidance that makes this kind of emergency compounding possible."

The Compounders’ Shortage Drug Source for Hospitals can be accessed through the APC’s website.

References:

1. Association launches Compounders’ Shortage Drug Source for Hospitals. News Release. Alliance for Pharmacy Compounding; April 23, 2020. Accessed April 24, 2020. https://myemail.constantcontact.com/New-APC-tool-connects-hospitals-and-compounders-in-COVID-crisis.html?soid=1121877895834&aid=Q1Q4wxMSE9c