9/4/13 - CLARIFICATION: Specialty Compounding, LLC Issues Nationwide Voluntary Recall of All Lots of Unexpired Sterile Products Due to Reports of Adverse...

CLARIFICATION: Specialty Compounding, LLC Issues Nationwide Voluntary Recall of All Lots of Unexpired Sterile Products Due to Reports of Adverse Events By a News Reporter-Staff News Editor at Biotech Week Specialty Compounding, LLC is voluntarily recalling all lots of sterile medications within expiry. Note: An earlier version of this news release indicated that the recall applied to all unexpired sterile compounded products dispensed since May 9, 2013; however, the recall applies to any sterile medication that has not reached its expiration date, including all strengths and dosage forms. The recall was initiated after reports of bacterial infection affecting 15 patients at two Texas hospitals, Corpus Christi Medical Center Doctors Regional and Corpus Christi Medical Center Bay Area, whose treatment included IV infusions of calcium gluconate from Specialty Compounding. There is a potential association between the infections and the medication at this time. No calcium gluconate was shipped outside of the state of Texas. If there is microbial contamination in products intended to be sterile, patients are at risk of serious infections which may be life threatening (see also Specialty Compounding, LLC). "Because of the potential association between the hospital-based infections and sterile compounded medications produced by Specialty Compounding, we are voluntarily recalling all sterile products out of an abundance of caution," said Ray Solano, R.Ph., pharmacist in charge at Specialty Compounding. "We deeply regret the impact this recall has on our patients and the hospitals that we serve, but patient safety must always be our first concern." Recalled products were distributed directly to hospitals and physician offices in Texas. Recalled products were also sent directly to patients located nationwide with the exception of North Carolina. Specialty Compounding is notifying its customers by telephone, fax, electronic mail and/or regular mail of this recall. Users or recipients of these products should immediately discontinue use and return the recalled unexpired products to Specialty Compounding. quoted from here

PCCA Outside Sales Representatives Job Opening

Outside Sales Representatives Company: N/A Location: Chicago, IL Pay: N/A	Contact Information Name: n/a Phone: n/a Fax: n/a
Apply Online

Job Description

PCCA (Professional Compounding Centers of America), leading independent compounding pharmacy's complete resource for fine chemicals, devices, equipment, training & support, is looking for Outside Sales Representatives to join their team!This a remote position.

This Outside Sales Representative will promote and sell PCCA memberships, equipment, chemicals, and educational services, along with other pharmaceutical products to independent compounding pharmacists and/or other healthcare entities.

Benefits:

• Competitive base + commission + annual bonuses


• Full benefits


• PCCA is an innovative & passionate organization that focuses on quality and making a different in patient’s lives

Responsibilities:

• Recruit and cold calling potential Perspective pharmacy members


• Present PCCA as a support company capable of assisting an owner in establishing and building a successful compounding practice


• Handle communication/interaction as needed with and for the prospective customers in the territory, i.e. initial set up, problems, questions, updating sales data in the system, investigations, resolutions, deliveries, sales calls, respond to queries, bulk sales conversations and bulk sales follow-up, provide updates on new chemicals, and/or products


• Prepare, present and/or assist with events; trade shows, seminars or symposiums as outlined, inclusive of assisting with equipment and supply set up and demonstrations


• Coordination of current account activities and literature regarding individual territory while working in tandem with designated individual inside and outside sales team members using Company tools and software to analyze prospects, underserved areas and discuss progress with accounts and management


• Discuss and neutralize obstacles preventing a prospective member from joining


• Know the strengths and weaknesses of competitive companies in the compounding community


• Discuss and integrate the Member Benefits Program into all aspects of selling process and cycle, i.e. rewards and Growth Incentive Bonus with prospects


• Present the top products/services/trends/competition of regions and company


• Develop and implement a process to shorten the sales cycle


• Travel overnight three weeks out of the month or 80 %


• Visit an average of six customers daily


• Actively work on top 500 accounts in the territory


• Visit and recruit prospects in underserved areas


• Visit and recruit A3-A4 prospects


• Perform Site inspections


• Familiarity with business practices


• Assist and work in tandem with pharmacy recruiting team in developing new members in the territory


• Develop and maintain relationships with contacts


• Work with inside and outside sales teams to ensure the success of new members


• Maintain a basic understanding of the U.S. pharmacy community, both independents and chain pharmacies, industry organizations, pharmaceutical companies, Pharmaceutical Research Manufacturers Association (PhRMA), regulatory agencies, insurance companies, and how compounding pharmacists interact within the community


• Maintain an understanding of compounding and its impact and importance to healthcare


• Assist with related special projects, as assigned

Job Requirements

• Bachelor’s Degree AND 2 years of sales experience OR


• High School Diploma AND 3 years of sales experience


• Sales training participation


• Excellent organizational, multi-tasking, presentation, math, time management and interpersonal skills


• Excellent verbal and written communication skills


• Advanced level computer skills in Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook and a contact management system (CRM)


• Ability to work independently as well as in a team environment


• Must live within the assigned territory


• Prior medical sales experience, a plus

Pharmaceutical Sales manager for Compounding Pharmacy (VA, MD and Washington DC) Job Opening

 

•Services existing accounts, obtains orders, and establishes new accounts by planning and organizing daily work schedule to call on existing or potential sales outlets and other trade factors.
•Adjusts content of sales presentations by studying the type of sales outlet or trade factor.
•Focuses sales efforts by studying existing and potential volume of dealers.
•Keeps management informed by submitting activity and results reports, such as daily call reports, weekly work plans, and monthly and annual territory analyses.
•Monitors competition by gathering current marketplace information on pricing, products, new products, delivery schedules, merchandising techniques, etc.
•Recommends changes in products, service, and policy by evaluating results and competitive developments.
•Resolves customer complaints by investigating problems; developing solutions; preparing reports; making recommendations to management.
•Maintains professional and technical knowledge by attending educational workshops; reviewing professional publications; establishing personal networks; participating in professional societies.
•Provides historical records by maintaining records on area and customer sales.
•Contributes to team effort by accomplishing related results as needed.

Skills/Qualifications: Customer Service, Motivation for Sales, Meeting Sales Goals, Closing Skills, Territory Management, Prospecting Skills, Negotiation, Self-Confidence, Product Knowledge, Presentation Skills, Client Relationships.
Must have previous pharmaceutical sales experiece.

• Location: VA, MD and Washington DC
• Compensation: Salary plus bonus based on experience
• OK for recruiters to contact this job poster.
• Please do not contact job poster about other services, products or commercial interests.

Posting ID: 4045478950

 

Posted: 2013-09-04, 11:19AM EDT

 

Updated: 2013-09-04, 11:19AM EDT

 

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From the PCCA website--Abstract: Compounding for Complex Patients - Pediatrics

This Abstract Poster Presentation presented at the FIP World Congress Dublin, Ireland (31 Aug – 5 Sep 2013) deals with the complexites and opportunities presented through compounding for pediatric patients.

Introduction:

The pediatric population is very different from adults and corresponds to a complex and heterogeneous group, from preterm newborn infants to adolescents, with a spectrum of different pathophysiologies associated with growth and development. The dynamic process of maturation profoundly affects the absorption, distribution, metabolism and excretion of medicines and, consequently, the response to therapy. As a result, the pediatric population requires age-appropriate formulations, but the development of such particular medicines represents, almost always, a major challenge to the pharmaceutical industry.

Read the complete abstract, and view the poster.

Second Question of the Day: September 4, 2013 Why Would Compounding Pharmacies in Texas Fail to Answer or Provide False Answers to the Texas Board of Pharmacy Form Asking What Services Are Provided? Is it to Avoid More Inspections? To avoid inspections for compounding pharmacies?

The list of questions are provided below.  Allison Benson at the Texas Board of Pharmacy (TSBP) indicates that "[a]t this time the information reported by the pharmacy regarding its services is not verified by TSBP."  Maybe this is something that the TSBP needs to examine on all pharmacies forms to check to see if the correct answers were provided and if not maybe there needs to be a penalty or fine.  The records are only as good as the information provided and maintained.  If the information is false or not true, then it is useless.

Services Provided

No

Nuclear

No

Out-Patient Sterile Products

No

Out-Patient/Discharge Prescriptions

No

Mail Service

No

Long Term Care

No

Class D (Expanded Formulary)

No

Class D (Alternative Visit Schedule)

No

Compounding Sterile-Risk Level Low

No

Compounding Sterile-Risk Level Med

No

Compounding Sterile-Risk Level High

No

Compounding Non-Sterile

No

Other Service

Barry A. Friedman Blog FAILURE TO PROTECT COMPUTERIZED DATA – A REMINDER OF SANDOZ AND CEPHAZONE PHARMA’S FDA WARNING LETTER ISSUES Posted on September 3, 2013

POSH CHEMICALS PRIVATE LTD RECEIVES FDA WARNING LETTER (8/2/13) During the timeframe of March 3-8, 2013 the FDA inspected Posh Chemicals Private Ltd, Hyderabad, India.  A total of three Observations were received.  Of particular note is Observation 1 which is … Continue reading →

Compounding Pharmacies Across The US Under Investigation September 3, 2013

view video here

9/3/13 - Imprimis Pharmaceuticals Buys Intellectual Property for Ophthalmic Compound Development Opportunity [Professional Services Close - Up]

Imprimis Pharmaceuticals, Inc., which is focused on the commercialization of drug formulations through a growing proprietary network of compounding pharmacy relationships and by utilizing the FDA 505(b)(2) development pathway, has announced it has acquired intellectual property, including a provisional patent application, related to an ophthalmic compound for intraoperative ocular injection of anti-inflammatory and anti-bacterial agents.

According to a release, Imprimis believes this formulation has the potential to significantly impact the $5 billion global cataract surgery drug market. The acquisition allows Imprimis to pursue the commercial development of certain proprietary technologies and also provides Imprimis with a preemptive right on additional Novel Drug Solutions and Eye Care Northwest intellectual property and drug development opportunities.

Imprimis CEO, Mark L. Baum, said, "This is an important acquisition of a novel drug formulation with an important clinical track record. It is gratifying to see our Asset Review Methodology (ARM) at work. We believe that going forward our growing group of drug discovery and development relationships will bring additional clinically relevant formulations to our company, and these assets will drive additional value for our shareholders. We are in the process of conducting a feasibility assessment related to the development of this asset, together with a team which consists of leaders from the ophthalmic development and regulatory community. Imprimis will continue to develop partnerships with inventors and secure assets which will support our strategic objectives."
The target compound, referred to as IPI-140, is based on a novel combination of moxifloxacin and triamcinolone. IPI-140 was co- invented by Novel Drug Solutions of Randolph, New Jersey and Dr. Jeffrey T. Liegner of Sparta, New Jersey. IPI-140 has been successfully administered by Dr. Liegner in more than 1,500 patients in his surgical practice.
Dr. Liegner stated, "The current treatment regimen for the prevention of post-cataract surgery complication is primarily a pre- operative and post-operative self-administered eye drop regimen, which requires from the patient strict compliance and careful adherence to a prescribed dosing schedule. Individuals with physical limitations, impaired manual dexterity, or those who lack of a supportive care giver, are particularly vulnerable to non- compliance and the subsequent complications of untreated post- surgical issues. This uniquely designed drug, utilizing a fourth generation quinolone therapy combined with potent inflammatory suppression, when placed as a depot inside the vitreous concurrent with cataract surgery, or any intraocular procedure, addresses the primary ocular complications of ophthalmic surgery: infection risk and post-operative inflammation."
Imprimis believes that IPI140 may have broad application in ophthalmic surgery, including the $5 billion global cataract surgery drug market. According to Ocular Surgery News, the cataract surgery market continues to grow tremendously not only because of the expanding aging population, but because the age at which patients demand cataract surgery has lowered, portending a global market size of $7-$9 billion in the next 5-7 years.
Imprimis expects to continue to leverage its exclusive relationships with Novel Drug Solutions, Eye Care Northwest, and others to acquire assets with a proven clinical track record.
Imprimis Pharmaceuticals, Inc. is a specialty pharmaceutical company focused on the commercial development of active pharmaceutical ingredient (API) delivery intellectual property and other proprietary drug formulations.
More information:
imprimispharma.com
((Comments on this story may be sent to newsdesk@closeupmedia.com))

Question of the Day September 4, 2013 Should a National Board of Compounding Pharmacy Much Like the United States Sentencing Commission Be Set Up to Oversee, License, Regulate, etc. Compounding Pharmacies so as to Take the Local Politics And Potential for Corruption Out of the Equation?

Question of the Day September 3, 2013 I am still puzzled by why all states are not taking immediate action against all compounding pharmacies and PHARMACISTS Who the FDA has inspected and found numerous issues with. Why are states not taking action?

Report from SC Board of Pharmacy Shows TX {partially) inspected Nuvision 2011. Nuvision also claims to have a third party who inspects them. Really?

SOUTH CAROLINA DEPARTMENT OF LABOR, LICENSING AND REGULATION

BEFORE THE BOARD OF PHARMACY

In the Matter of:
Nu Vision Phannacy,
FINAL ORDER
Applicant.
This matter came before the Board ofPhannacy("Board"), as  a result of the Nonresident
Permit  Subcommittee's  Recommendation.  Applicant  was  duly  noticed  to  appear  at  this
subcommittee meeting for an application hearing by letter.  The Applicant did not appear at the final
application hearing. .
Permit applications ofthis type are governed by S.C. Code Sections 40-43-86, 40-43-89, and
Reg. 99-43, as amended
----.
FINDINGS OF FACT
1. Applicant is located in Dallas, Texas. Applicant~s proposed phannacist-in-charge is Kristi
Kubosh.  She appeared on behalf ofthe Applicant.
2. Applicant applied on January 3,2012 for a nonresident phannacy permit.
3. Applicant  mostly  makes  nutrients  and  creams,  and  some  controlled  substances  with
testosterone injectables.  Applicant mostly does sterile compounding, with some non-sterile
compounding.  Applicant testified that the facility began sterile compounding in August or
September of2012.
4. Applicant last Texas inspection was in Apri12011 (partial inspection).  Applicant testified
that Texas does inspections approximately every 3 years.  Applicant is not sure why the last
inspection  was  partial.  In 2011,  the facility ,was  building  a  clean room  and  becoming
certified.
5. Applicant has a third-party that inspects the sterile facility.
6. Applicant has not shipped products or preparations into South Carolina previously.
7. Applicant markets at trade shows, and gets business through referrals.  Most ofApplicant's
preparations are specialty compounds.
I 8. Applicant is licensed in multiple other states.
9. Applicant has a 3: 1 ratio oftechnicians and phannacists.  The six technicians employed are
Texan certified.
CONCLUSIONS OF LAW
In an application hearingt
"(t)he applicant shall demonstrate to the satisfaction ofthe board
that the applicant meets all requirements for the issuance ofa license." S.C. Code Ann. §40.1-130
(1976, as amended). Thus
t
the burden ofproofin an application for licensure or certification is on
the Applicant to provide full,  complete, and accurate responses to all questions on the application
and to demonstrate that he or she is qualified for the license sought.
Pursuant to S.C. Code Ann. § 40-43-140, the Board may suspend, revoke, deny, or refuse to
renew the permit or impose disciplinary action authorized for violations ofthis chapter.
NOW,  THEREFORE,  BASED  ON  THE  RECOMMENDATION  OF  THE
SUBCOMMITTEE",IT..IS.ORDERED, A1)JUDGED,AND DECREED that:
The Applicant meets the qualifications as set out by law, and is approved for a non-resident
pharmacy permit, pending a successful inspection by the Texas Board ofPhannacy on the sterile
portion ofthe facility.
AND IT IS SO ORDERED.
South Carolina Board of Pharmacy
Date: March 29. 2013
found here http://www.llr.state.sc.us/POL/FinalOrders/Pharmacy/pdf/NuVision%20Pharmacy%203-2013.pdf

The Drug Shortage Blog Has Great Summary of the GOA Report on Compounding

GAO Report on Drug Compounding

What GAO Found

The authority of the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), an agency within the Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), to oversee drug compounding is unclear. Two federal circuit court decisions have resulted in differing FDA authority in different parts of the country. According to FDA officials, these inconsistent decisions and the agency's limited inspection authority over pharmacies have created challenges in FDA's ability to inspect and take enforcement action against entities engaging in drug compounding. For example, from 2002 through 2012, in order to inspect some facilities engaged in drug compounding, FDA officials said they had to obtain 11 warrants to gain access to drug compounders' facilities that had challenged FDA's inspection authority. GAO also found that while FDA and national pharmacy organization officials generally agreed that states regulate the practice of pharmacy and FDA regulates drug manufacturing, there was no consensus on whether compounding drugs in large quantities--in anticipation of individual prescriptions or without prescriptions--and selling those drugs across state lines falls within the practice of pharmacy or is a type of drug manufacturing that should be overseen by FDA. This lack of consensus and differing FDA authority to oversee compounded drugs across the country has resulted in gaps in oversight of drug compounding. 
FDA lacks timely and reliable information to oversee the entities that compound drugs, but has found problems through its limited oversight. Specifically, FDA's inspection database cannot identify all of the agency's inspections of compounding pharmacies, or the final classification of inspection results, for all of the inspections. Until 2013, FDA limited its inspections of compounding pharmacies to those conducted in response to complaints or adverse events. However, the agency recently inspected compounding pharmacies that it identified as posing a significant threat to public health from poor sterile drug production practices in the past and found problems, such as concerns about a lack of sterility, which resulted in recalls of compounded drugs. In addition, drug manufacturers are required to register with FDA and are subject to FDA's inspection and drug approval processes; pharmacies meeting certain requirements are generally exempt from registration. However, some compounding pharmacies may have registered with FDA to market themselves as "FDA-registered" which may lead some purchasers to assume that FDA has inspected or approved their compounded drugs; whereas, according to FDA officials, this is generally not the case. 
The states GAO reviewed--California, Connecticut, Florida, and Iowa--have each taken actions to enhance their oversight of drug compounding. For example, Florida required all pharmacies--both those located in the state and out-of-state that sell drugs in Florida--to notify the board of their compounding activities. In addition, national pharmacy organizations have undertaken efforts to help states oversee drug compounding. For example, a national pharmacy organization is working with Iowa to inspect out-of-state pharmacies that ship drugs into the state. However, according to national pharmacy organizations and officials from state boards of pharmacy, some states do not have the resources to inspect pharmacies on a regular basis. Instead, these states inspect pharmacies only in response to a complaint or a reported adverse drug event.

continue to read here

9 Investigates: Government acts to make prescriptions safer...NC State Board of Pharmacy Had Shut Down Stewart Pharmacy

9 Investigates: Government acts to make prescriptions safer...

MUST READ! How a Cabal Keeps Generics Scarce how GPOs created drug shortages that left a niche for compounding pharmacies

ABOUT a year ago, President Obama signed a law that was supposed to end chronic shortages of lifesaving drugs. But the critical lack of generic drugs continues unabated. It is a preventable crisis that is inflicting suffering on patients and, in some cases, causing needless deaths.

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ISSUE: SEPTEMBER 2013 | VOLUME: FDA Reasserts Concerns About NuVision Sterile Products by George Ochoa

The FDA continued to advise health care providers not to use sterile products from NuVision Pharmacy of Dallas, because the sterility of the products is not assured, according to an Aug. 16 FDA news release. This alert followed an April recall by NuVision of methylcobalamin injection and lyophilized injection products due to a lack of sterility assurance, and a May 18 FDA announcement of expanded concerns about a lack of sterility assurance of all NuVision’s sterile drug products.

“The FDA received adverse event reports of fever, flu-like symptoms, and soreness at the injection site associated with the methylcobalamin injection product” that was recalled, said the Aug. 16 news release.

NuVision has repeatedly declined FDA requests for a more widespread recall of the company’s sterile products, according to the agency; the FDA said it lacks the authority to require such a recall. Most recently, on July 26, the FDA issued a letter to NuVision outlining poor sterile production practices observed during an FDA inspection of NuVision’s Dallas facility. Among the agency’s findings:

• The firm’s facility design “was inadequate for the processing of aseptically filled, injectable products.” HEPA filters, for example, “covered less than one-half of the area in which sterile drugs are aseptically manipulated.”
• The ISO area where the HEPA filters were located “consisted of a table with inadequate protection to safeguard the sterile product from influx of lower-quality air from the immediately adjacent ISO 7 clean room.” Without an adequate physical barrier, the FDA’s letter noted, the compounding area was vulnerable to microbial contamination from the activities of personnel in or near the work area.
• The company lacked any proof that the aseptic work area “was supplied with a clean unidirectional air of sufficient velocity to protect sterile components from microbial contamination during aseptic processing.”

The letter, from Melinda K. Plaisier, the acting associate commissioner for regulatory affairs at the FDA, requested an immediate “recall of all lots of all sterile products produced at NuVision that are within expiry,” and warned, “if a drug product marketed as sterile contains microbial contamination, patients could be at risk for serious infections, which may be life-threatening.” NuVision responded by refusing the requested recall, according to the Aug. 16 news release.

On NuVision’s website, the company stated that it is not recalling all sterile injectables, and that all its sterile injectables are tested for sterility by a third-party laboratory before dispensing. The website also reports that NuVision is a compounding pharmacy, not a manufacturer. “We are in compliance with USP [Chapter] <795> and [Chapter] <797> which are the standards of law for compounding pharmacy. The FDA has been inspecting compounding pharmacies based on a different set of standards for manufacturers called FDA 210 and 211. … The current state laws do not require compounding pharmacies to follow the standards for manufacturing.”

The FDA advises health care professionals to check their medical supplies for NuVision sterile products, quarantine any such products, and not administer them to patients.

quoted from here

Medical ‘cartels’ had links to local firms tied to meningitis outbreak Hub Business — September 3, 2013

Note: This post has been updated and changed a bit since original filing.

Margaret Clapp, the former chief pharmacy officer at Massachusetts General Hospital, has co-authored a NYT op-ed piece today, charging that large “group purchasing organizations” are still causing shortages of even the most basic drugs needed by patients.

And the authors are linking the recent shortages and the group “cartels” to two now infamous firms in Framingham and Westborough:

A deadly outbreak of fungal meningitis, which was first identified last September in Tennessee, was triggered by shortages of asteroid painkiller, prompting providers to turn to the now bankrupt New England Compounding Center, which, as a so-called compounding pharmacy, was not held by the Food and Drug Administration to the same stringent standards as regular drug manufacturers. The pharmacy’s sister company, Ameridose, which has also been closed, had supply contracts with five of the largest American hospital purchasing organizations.

Here’s the kicker: The authors say these shortages and the purchasing groups themselves are ultimately the result of federal government policies:

By awarding select suppliers exclusive contracts in return for exorbitant (and undisclosed) “administrative,” marketing and other fees, they have reduced the number of suppliers to just one or two for many generics. …

This perverse system was created in 1987 when Congress enacted the Medicare anti-kickback “safe harbor,” which exempted these buying organizations from criminal prosecution for accepting vendor kickbacks.

Fyi: NECC and Ameridose are now closed.

quoted from here

California Board of Pharmacy Agenda for Enforcement and Compounding Committee Meeting on September 10, 2013

NOTICE OF MEETING AND AGENDA

Enforcement and Compounding Committee Meeting

September 10, 2013

Contact Person:  Laura Hendricks
(916) 574-7918
Note:  This is a combined meeting to discuss enforcement and compounding matters.
An E-Pedigree meeting will occur on September 26, 2013, in El Segundo.
This committee meeting is open to the public and is accessible to the physically disabled.  A person who needs
a disability-related accommodation or modification in order to participate in the meeting may make a request
by contacting Laura Hendricks at (916) 574-7918, by emailing laura.hendricks@dca.ca.gov or sending a written
request to  Ms.  Hendricks  at the Board of Pharmacy, 1625 N. Market Blvd., Suite N-219, Sacramento, CA
95834.  Providing your request at least five business days before the meeting will help to ensure availability of
the requested accommodation.
Note:  Pharmacists and pharmacy technicians who attend the full committee meeting can be awarded two
hours of CE, in accordance with the board’s CE policy.  A maximum of four CE hours can be earned each year
by attending the meetings of two different board committees.
DATE:  September 10, 2013
PLACE:  Department of Consumer Affairs / Hearing Room
1625 N. Market Blvd
Sacramento, CA  95834
This meeting may be cancelled without notice.  For verification of the meeting, call (916) 574-7900 or access
the Board’s Web site at www.pharmacy.ca.gov.
Discussion and action may be taken on any item on the agenda.  The committee may discuss agenda items in
any order.  Board members who are not on the committee may attend, but may not vote.  Time limitations for
discussion and comment will be determined by the committee chair.
Agenda
Call to Order  9:30 a.m.
Page 1 of 2

Meeting Materials will be available on the board’s Web site at www.pharmacy.ca.gov by September 6, 2013
                                                                                                                          
I.  Enforcement Matters

ChinaGate: Glaxo Bribery Was Coordinated At High Levels? 1 Posted 9/3/2013 at 9:03 AM by Ed Silverman

Once again, the version of events presented by GlaxoSmithKline over the embarrassing bribery scandal in China is being questioned. The latest confusion is brought to you courtesy of a report from the Xinhua news agency in which Huang Hong, the general manager for Glaxo operations there, claims the drugmaker shifted responsibility onto individual sales reps as the investigation heated up.

The police investigation found the Glaxo unit in China “went through the motions in internal auditing” so the violations would not be discovered, according to Xinhua, which interviewed Hong. He explained Glaxo set goals for annual sales growth as high as 25 percent, which was 7 percent to 8 percent above industry averages, but could not be accomplished without “dubious corporate behavior.”

The implication is that Glaxo executives – at least those in China or overseeing operations there – coordinated the bribery scheme. As reported previously, Glaxo employees are alleged to have paid more than $400 million in bribes to doctors and government officials, and used travel agencies to create conferences in order to funnel some of the money in hopes of boosting prescriptions for its medicines.

In a statement made several weeks ago, Glaxo ceo Andrew Witty called this mess “shameful” and blamed "individuals" who operated outside "controls and processes." Days earlier, Abbas Hussain, Glaxo president of international operations issued a formal statement admitting that "certain senior execs" in the Chinese unit "acted outside of our processes and controls, which breaches Chinese law."

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PCCA Sales Job in Atlanta GA

Outside Sales Representatives (Atlanta, GA)

APPLY HERE: http://bullhorn.personified.com/client/jobInfoApplicationRespMgmt.action?EntityID=10856&source=Craigslist_P

PCCA (Professional Compounding Centers of America), leading independent compounding pharmacy's complete resource for fine chemicals, devices, equipment, training & support, is looking for Outside Sales Representatives to join their team! This a remote position.

This Outside Sales Representative will promote and sell PCCA memberships, equipment, chemicals, and educational services, along with other pharmaceutical products to independent compounding pharmacists and/or other healthcare entities.

Benefits:
• Competitive base + commission + annual bonuses
• Full benefits
• PCCA is an innovative & passionate organization that focuses on quality and making a different in patient's lives

Responsibilities:
• Recruit and cold calling potential Perspective pharmacy members
• Present PCCA as a support company capable of assisting an owner in establishing and building a successful compounding practice
• Handle communication/interaction as needed with and for the prospective customers in the territory, i.e. initial set up, problems, questions, updating sales data in the system, investigations, resolutions, deliveries, sales calls, respond to queries, bulk sales conversations and bulk sales follow-up, provide updates on new chemicals, and/or products
• Prepare, present and/or assist with events; trade shows, seminars or symposiums as outlined, inclusive of assisting with equipment and supply set up and demonstrations
• Coordination of current account activities and literature regarding individual territory while working in tandem with designated individual inside and outside sales team members using Company tools and software to analyze prospects, underserved areas and discuss progress with accounts and management
• Discuss and neutralize obstacles preventing a prospective member from joining
• Know the strengths and weaknesses of competitive companies in the compounding community
• Discuss and integrate the Member Benefits Program into all aspects of selling process and cycle, i.e. rewards and Growth Incentive Bonus with prospects
• Present the top products/services/trends/competition of regions and company
• Develop and implement a process to shorten the sales cycle
• Travel overnight three weeks out of the month or 80 %
• Visit an average of six customers daily
• Actively work on top 500 accounts in the territory
• Visit and recruit prospects in underserved areas
• Visit and recruit A3-A4 prospects
• Perform Site inspections
• Familiarity with business practices
• Assist and work in tandem with pharmacy recruiting team in developing new members in the territory
• Develop and maintain relationships with contacts
• Work with inside and outside sales teams to ensure the success of new members
• Maintain a basic understanding of the U.S. pharmacy community, both independents and chain pharmacies, industry organizations, pharmaceutical companies, Pharmaceutical Research Manufacturers Association (PhRMA), regulatory agencies, insurance companies, and how compounding pharmacists interact within the community
• Maintain an understanding of compounding and its impact and importance to healthcare
• Assist with related special projects, as assigned

Qualifications:
• Bachelor's Degree AND 2 years of sales experience OR
• High School Diploma AND 3 years of sales experience
• Sales training participation
• Excellent organizational, multi-tasking, presentation, math, time management and interpersonal skills
• Excellent verbal and written communication skills
• Advanced level computer skills in Microsoft Word, Excel, Outlook and a contact management system (CRM)
• Ability to work independently as well as in a team environment
• Must live within the assigned territory
• Prior medical sales experience, a plus

APPLY HERE: http://bullhorn.personified.com/client/jobInfoApplicationRespMgmt.action?EntityID=10856&source=Craigslist_P

• Location: Atlanta, GA
• Compensation: Competitive base + commission + annual bonuses
• Principals only. Recruiters, please don't contact this job poster.
• Please do not contact job poster about other services, products or commercial interests.

Posting ID: 4044183574

 

Posted: 2013-09-03, 5:40PM EDT

 

Updated: 2013-09-03, 5:40PM EDT

 

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