Mass. Pharmacy Industry Resists Call For Stricter Regulation

Workers at J.E. Pierce Apothecary, a compounding pharmacy in Brookline. (Curt Nickisch/WBUR)

BOSTON A second compounding pharmacy in Massachusetts has agreed to temporarily shut down. Ameridose of Westborough is run by the same executives who run the Framingham company that produced the steroid linked to a deadly outbreak of fungal meningitis. More than 130 people in 11 states have been sickened. Twelve have died. But unlike New England Compounding Center, Ameridose is not issuing recalls while regulators inspect its facility.

The investigation into the mounting death toll linked to NECC is prompting many to call for greater regulation of such compounding pharmacies. Still, many in the industry say that will likely only make things worse.

Smaller Pharmacies Forced To Adapt

Ever since the news broke that a compounding pharmacy in Massachusetts was been linked to a growing roster of dead patients, Greg Laham has been upset.

Its really a shame, Laham said. Its a horrible thing.

Laham is the owner of a different compounding pharmacy, one of dozens around the state, Sullivans in Roslindale. The store opened the year Fenway Park did 100 years ago.

Mr. Sullivan started the business in 1912. Theres been three owners, Laham said. He, another owner, and then myself. Ive been here 35 years.

Under his watch, Laham has seen the pharmacy business change big time. For one, the rise of chain stores like CVS. Laham says mom-and-pop pharmacies could no longer compete on price, so they had to adapt.

Thats the key. I mean, no matter what I sell Tylenol for, someones gonna be selling it cheaper, Laham said. We cant even buy it at the price some people are selling it. So thats not what were looking for. Were looking for a lot of services that pharmacies didnt provide before.

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Mass. Pharmacy Industry Resists Call For Stricter Regulation