NABP e-News: August 18, 2009

LegitScript, KnujOn Spotlight Exploitation of Internet Ad Programs
NABP issued a public statement on August 18, 2009, applauding LegitScript and KnujOn for spotlighting the exploitation of search engines’ advertising programs by rogue Internet drug outlets. Their August 18 report, “Analysis of Yahoo! Prescription Drug Sponsored Search Results,” the second in a series, examines the Web sites selling prescription medications that advertise through Yahoo!’s online advertising program. The report finds that 82% of the prescription drug and Internet drug outlet advertisements the authors reviewed led to drug outlets that do not require a prescription for prescription medications or that violate other United States medication safety and pharmacy laws. The first report in the series focuses on similar exploitations of Microsoft's bing.com.

FDA Seeks Assistance in Tracking Stolen Albuterol Sulfate Inhalation Solution
Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is seeking assistance in tracking a cargo theft of 35,760 cartons of Dey® brand generic albuterol sulfate inhalation solution that occurred on approximately August 5. Each carton contains 30 3-ml single unit-dose vials of 0.083% albuterol sulfate inhalation solution, NDC number 49502-697-29, lot numbers 9G01 and 9FE2. FDA stresses that that every carton of Dey brand generic albuterol sulfate manufactured with these lot numbers was subject to this theft and was never previously distributed, so none of this product should be in the legitimate pharmaceutical supply chain.

FDA is asking pharmaceutical drug distributors and pharmacies that may receive offers for the stolen drug products, or that may have been sold stolen product, to contact FDA's Office of Criminal Investigations (OCI) by phone at 800/551-3989 or on the OCI Web site. Boards of pharmacy are urged to share this information with their licensees and to encourage distributors and pharmacies to verify pedigrees they receive with any wholesale drug purchases.

CDC Announces Get Smart Week to Help Decrease Antibiotic Resistance 
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) is holding Get Smart Week October 5-11, 2009, to emphasize CDC’s public health effort to decrease antibiotic resistance including how pharmacists can become involved. Because antibiotic resistance is one of the world’s most pressing public health problems, CDC launched the Get Smart Web site to teach about the potential danger of antibiotic resistance and what can be done to prevent it.

The Web site contains patient education materials, updated guidelines for health care providers, campaign materials, and additional resources, including information in Spanish, to help increase the public health awareness of antibiotic resistance and the importance of obtaining influenza vaccines in time for the upcoming flu season. As most states now allow pharmacists to immunize, they can help contribute to public health awareness on who should get flu shots and appropriate antibiotic use in the community.  

Iowa Board of Pharmacy to Hold Public Hearings on Medical Marijuana
The Iowa Board of Pharmacy will hold four public hearings around the state to solicit evidence and testimony on the pros and cons of medical marijuana from the scientific, medical, and legal perspective. The Board is interested in hearing from medical practitioners including physicians, mid-level practitioners, nurses, pharmacists, and hospice workers; patients; care-givers; law enforcement personnel; regulatory agencies; legislators; educators; scientists; researchers; other interested parties; and members of the general public.

The hearings are scheduled as follows:

  • August 19, 2009, Des Moines, IO
  • September 2, 2009,  Mason City, IO
  • October 7, 2009,  Iowa City, IO
  • November 4, 2009, Council Bluffs, IO

More information about the hearings is available on the Iowa Board Web site.

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