The U.S. Food and Drug Administration is alerting health care professionals and patients not to use drug products intended to be sterile that are produced and distributed by Pharm D Solutions LLC, Houston, Texas, due to lack of sterility assurance. Administration of a non-sterile drug product intended to be sterile may result in serious and potentially life-threatening infections or death.
Health care professionals should immediately check their medical supplies, quarantine any purportedly sterile drug products, and not administer them to patients. Health care professionals should also make alternative arrangements to obtain any medications they administer to patients from reliable sources that adhere to proper quality standards.
Patients who have received drug products produced by Pharm D and have concerns should contact their health care professional.
FDA issued a warning letter to Pharm D in December 2016 following an inspection. During FDA’s recent follow-up inspection of Pharm D’s compounding facility in August 2018, investigators observed insanitary conditions, including poor sterile production practices and deficient environmental monitoring. These conditions raised concerns about the company’s ability to assure the sterility of its drug products.
On September 10, 2018, following FDA’s recommendation, Pharm D recalled all unexpired drug products intended to be sterile and agreed to cease sterile operations until it makes adequate corrections at its facility. However, Pharm D resumed sterile operations on October 8, 2018, and distributed purportedly sterile products without making adequate corrections at the facility. Pharm D agreed to cease sterile operations again on November 9, 2018, but has not agreed to FDA’s recommendation to recall all unexpired drug products intended to be sterile. These compounded drug products could put patients at risk.
Pharm D is registered as an outsourcing facility under section 503B of the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act. The Drug Quality and Security Act, signed into law on Nov. 27, 2013, added a new section 503B to the FD&C Act. Under section 503B, a compounder can elect to register as an outsourcing facility.
FDA encourages health care professionals and patients to report adverse reactions or quality problems experienced with the use of these products to the FDA’s MedWatch Adverse Event Reporting program by:
- Completing and submitting the report online at www.fda.gov/medwatch/report.htm; or
- Downloading and completing the form, then submit it via fax at 1-800-FDA-0178.