The American Society of Health-System Pharmacists (ASHP) has joined the governance body of the Center for Pharmacy Practice Accreditation (CPPA). 

FDA has approved two new flu vaccines that, instead of using eggs to grow the influenza virus, use cell lines from either a mammal or insects.

The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) Drug Safety and Risk Management Advisory Committee recommended reclassifying hydrocodone combination products as Schedule II controlled substances after a two-day meeting.

NABP PMP InterConnect^®, the system that facilitates the secure transfer of prescription monitoring program (PMP) data across state lines to authorized users, continues to help prevent the diversion and abuse of prescription drugs. 

The Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) has issued a National Alert Network (NAN) notice (PDF) advising that health care organizations should take immediate steps to ensure that only diluted acetic acid solutions are used in patient care.

The National Association of Boards of Pharmacy^® (NABP^®) today issued a report outlining how continued collaboration among global stakeholders is vital to eliminating the public health threats posed by rogue Internet drug outlets. 

The Tennessee Board of Pharmacy has convened a task force to review the state’s regulations pertaining to compounding and determine how regulations might be strengthened to further protect the public health. 

Bureau of Health Care Safety and Quality inspectors in Massachusetts are close to completing a round of surprise inspections of compounding pharmacies and FDA inspectors have also begun inspecting one of the pharmacies.

USP is seeking qualified candidates to serve on the Pharmaceutical Compounding–Sterile Preparations Expert Panel.

Andrew J. Strempler, a Canadian citizen, was sentenced to four years in prison for charges related to the operation of a Web site illegally marketing and distributing prescription drugs to US residents. 

To help reduce abuse and overdoses of prescription pain medications, New York City public hospitals will begin following new voluntary guidelines on prescribing.

In the wake of the meningitis outbreak linked to contaminated drugs compounded by the New England Compounding Center (NECC), the Texas State Board of Pharmacy conducted a special survey.

A spike in flu activity and limited supplies of vaccine and Tamiflu^® doses across the country have prompted Rx Response to move its operations to Alert status.

FDA has issued new dosing recommendations for sleep aids containing zolpidem.

The Institute for Safe Medication Practices (ISMP) has launched a National Vaccine Error Reporting Program (VERP) that allows health care providers to confidentially report vaccine administration errors and near misses.

Patients refilling prescriptions who receive pills of a different color than for a previous prescription may be less likely to adhere to their drug therapy.

The Minnesota Board of Pharmacy, which already has strong compounding regulations and requirements in place, is in the process of considering additional requirements, some of which will require the passage of new legislation. 

The California State Board of Pharmacy will sponsor a bill that would allow inspectors to make unannounced on-site inspections of certain nonresident pharmacies.

Massachusetts Governor Deval Patrick will file a bill that would strengthen the state’s regulation of compounding pharmacies. 

Google has begun running search-based advertising aimed to help educate US consumers about illegal online drug sellers.

Effective March 1, 2013, candidates will be limited to five attempts to pass the North American Pharmacist Licensure Examination (NAPLEX) and the Multistate Pharmacy Jurisprudence Examination (MPJE). 

Emphasizing risks to patient safety, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) has alerted more than 350 medical practices (PDF) across the country that they may have received unapproved medications.

As FDA continues to seek a balance between minimizing opioid drug abuse and enabling the appropriate treatment of pain, the agency will hold a two-day public hearing to obtain information.

The updated 2013 Survey of Pharmacy Law is now available

The Oregon State Board of Pharmacy and LegitScript took actions to prevent rogue Internet drug outlets from distributing products.

In a new study analyzing electronic health record (EHR)-related patient safety events, the majority of events involved medication errors.