Avastin Recalled by Clinical Specialties Compounding Pharmacy

Compounding pharmacies are under the probing scrutiny of the authorities lately. The FDA recently released another recall of all sterile products produced by Clinical Specialties, a compounding pharmacy based out of Georgia. The pharmacy’s safety practices were called into question after its original recall of repackaged Avastin was announced on March 18, 2013.

Avastin is a drug used to treat macular degeneration. Clinical Specialties was repackaging Avastin from its bulk form into smaller or single dose syringes to be used by treating doctors.  Such repackaging is a regular practice among compounding pharmacies. Lack of sterility has become one of the most common reasons for compounding pharmacy recalls, and the sterility of a product is often compromised during the repackaging process.

Somewhere in Clinical Specialties’ repackaging process, the product became contaminated. To date, the contamination has resulted in five patients suffering very serious eye infections.After the discovery of the contaminated syringes of Avastin, the sterility of all of Clinical Specialties’ products becameuncertain. Therefore, the pharmacy has announced that it is recalling all lots of all sterile products it produced or repackaged. The recalled products were distributed nationwide from October 19, 2012 to March 19, 2013 and treating physicians have been instructed to remove these products from their inventory.