Tuesday, July 22, 2014

Caution urged over compounded drugs in horses in Canada

Caution urged over compounded drugs in horses

Queen's Horse Tests Positive For Morphine

Queen's horse fails drug test, feed supply investigated
Massive embarrasment for the Queen and her racehorse trainer Sir Michael Stoute today as one of her prize steeds - the  2013 Ascot Gold Cup winning filly Estimate - tested positive for morphine in random tests conducted by Britain's horseracing authorities.
Keen-witted royalists wil remember that this was the win that caused the Queen to break into an uncharacteristic show of emotion, laughing and slapping her knees as it romped home.
The shock news will cast an unfortunate pall over a day which was otherwise to be notable for the birthday celebrations for Prince George, which were taking place at Kensington Palace today.
The horse was one of five animals to be found to have morphine in its blood in recent tests, but it seems unlikely that this story will develop into a full-blown royal doping scandal.

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Penn National Race Course worker pleads guilty to federal wire fraud charge

A Penn National Race Course worker who was accused of taking bribes to provide false workout times for horses has pleaded guilty to a federal wire fraud charge.
Danny Robertson, 63, of Hershey, could face up to 20 years in prison when he is sentenced by U.S. Middle District Senior Judge William W. Caldwell at a still-to-be-determined date. No sentence is specified in his plea agreement.
Robertson was one of four people charged in November following a highly publicized state and federal probe at the racetrack in Dauphin County's East Hanover Township.
As a timer, he was supposed to attend pre-race workouts for horses and record their times in trial runs. The information was to be included in the track's official daily racing program and also was provided via the Internet to Equifax, which transmitted it nationwide, including to the Daily Racing Form.
U.S. Attorney Peter J. Smith said Tuesday that Robertson took cash to provide false workout times, and sometimes even passed on "completely fabricated" statistics for horses that did not work out at all.
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Veterinary Practice News: Drug Makers, Compounders at Odds Over FDA Oversight - International Academy of Compounding Pharmacists

Veterinary Practice News: Drug Makers, Compounders at Odds Over FDA Oversight - International Academy of Compounding Pharmacists

InsideHealthPolicy.com Select Compounding Pharmacies Team Up to Negotiate with PRMs, Payors

Closed Formulary Could Decrease Use of ‘N’ Drugs The recent success of the closed pharmacy formulary in the Texas workers’ comp system shows promise for other states, especially in regions where non-formulary drugs are prevalent.

Closed Formulary Could Decrease Use of ‘N’ Drugs

The recent success of the closed pharmacy formulary in the Texas workers’ comp system shows promise for other states, especially in regions where non-formulary drugs are prevalent.
By: | July 21, 2014

A Conversation with Robert Pugaczewski – President of International Nutrition, Inc. – Part I - See more at: http://dc.citybizlist.com/article/46858/a-conversation-with-robert-pugaczewski-president-of-international-nutrition-inc-part-i#sthash.9uYIC6TW.dpuf

Robert Pugaczewski oversees International Nutrition, Inc., which specializes in formulating nutritional and dietary supplements for children and adults with special healthcare needs. Based in Middle River, the company has steadily built a national and international following. We recently sat down with Rob to learn about his company – its products and growth – and what keeps him motivated.
F. Kirk Kolodner (KK): Tell me about your company and the audience you serve.
Robert Pugaczewski (RP): We started in 1995, primarily developing products for the special needs industry: mainly products for children with Down syndrome. In the late nineties, we began receiving requests to get into other areas with genetic issues. Then, the autism community began contacting us. As word of our company spread, we expanded into other areas of specialty nutrition. Now, we sell over 400 different products.
KK: What products do you sell in addition to those for special dietary needs?
RP: We have a custom compounding pharmacy where we customize and formulate specialty blends of vitamins, minerals, amino-acids and digestive enzymes. Additionally, we have several websites, including www.nutrivene.com, which is primarily for the special needs industry, and www.gapsdiet.com, which supports digestive disorders. We’re also a licensee of Verdure Sciences, which manufactures innovative botanical ingredients such as Longvida Curcumin, which comes from tumeric and has anti-inflammatory properties that are being researched for its use in treating arthritis and Alzheimer’s. Finally, we’re a distributor for Seagreens, a certified organic seaweed product that is harvested off the coast of Scotland.
KK: Are your customers referred by physicians, or do family members with a special needs child find you?
RP: Actually, both. We get referrals from relatives, friends and the medical community.
KK: Does health insurance cover the cost of your products?
RP: Many of our compounded drugs once were covered by health insurance, but with all the changes in healthcare, most third-party reimbursement no longer covers compounded drugs. Fortunately, flexible spending accounts can still be used. We are also lucky in that many organizations donate to a private fund for folks who can’t afford our products, and then we’ll distribute products that way. Plus, we often donate products ourselves
- See more at: http://dc.citybizlist.com/article/46858/a-conversation-with-robert-pugaczewski-president-of-international-nutrition-inc-part-i#sthash.9uYIC6TW.dpuf

Jones Day United States: FDA Issues Proposed Rule To Expand List Of Drugs That May Not Be Compounded Under Exemptions To FDCA

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Third Question of the Day July 22, 2014 Are compoundig pharmacies and their constant push back against the FDA and its attempt to enforce rules and regulations just making a stronger case for Congress to turn over all regulation of compounding pharmacies to the FDA especially in light of the fact that most state boards of pharmacy are taking little if no action against compounding pharmacies and pharamcists and some have indicated that do not want the responsiblity of overseeing compounding?


Arizona asks top court to reverse execution ruling | WHEC.com

Arizona asks top court to reverse execution ruling | WHEC.com