The fungal meningitis outbreak that continues to spread nationwide is a wake up call to update and strengthen the rules that govern the operations called compounding pharmacies. Rep. Markey has been a leading Congressional force in investigating the contaminated steroid injections that came from the New England Compounding Center (NECC) in Framingham, which is located in his Congressional district.
October 8, 2012: Markey Queries FDA on Oversight of Compounding Pharmacies in Wake of Meningitis Outbreak
October 9, 2012: Markey Announces Plan to Introduce Legislation Strengthening Oversight of Compounding Pharmacies in Response to Meningitis Outbreak
October 10, 2012: Markey Queries FDA If It Believes It Was Misled by NECC
October 12, 2012: Markey Cites FDA, Mass Dept of Health Officials Calling for Congressional Action on Compounding Pharmacies
October 16, 20112: Markey Asks Justice Department to Investigate Possible Controlled Substance Violations by NECC
October 23, 2012: Markey Statement on MA State Investigation Preliminary Findings of NECC
October 29, 2012: Markey Releases New Report, "Compounding Pharmacies, Compounding Risk", Which Documents More than a Decade of Violations and Problems at Compounding Pharmacies throughout the Nation
November 1, 2012: Markey Introduces Legislation - the Verifying Authority and Legality in Drug (VALID) Compounding Act - to Strengthen Federal Regulations for Compounding Pharmacies
November 15, 2012: Markey, Top Democrats Call for GAO Investigation into Link Between Drug Shortages and Increased Reliance on Compounding Pharmacies