Protecting Rights to Custom Medicine

Bill and Jan Mixon Go to Washington:
Local Pharmacist Lobbies Congress to Protect Access to Customized Medications
Lobbying Effort Takes Place in Wake of Landmark, Pro-Compounding Court Ruling

July 2007- More than 400 pharmacists from across the nation descended upon Washington, D.C., earlier this month to lobby Members of Congress to protect access to customized, compounded medicines for patients who need them. One of the pharmacists who made the trip was Bill Mixon accompanied by his wife, Jan Mixon, of the Compounding Pharmacy in Hickory, NC. While meeting with various elected officials and their staff, Bill and Jan along with their colleagues discussed the value of pharmacy compounding. Pharmacy compounding is a pharmacy practice that enables doctors to prescribe customized pharmaceutical treatments for patients when one-size-fits-all manufactured products are inappropriate. While state boards of pharmacy regulate pharmacy compounding, pharmaceutical manufacturers are pushing for onerous, federal restrictions that would restrict patient's access to needed medications.
The trip to Washington, D.C., dubbed Compounders on Capitol Hill, was the 13th annual trip coordinated by the International Academy of Compounding Pharmacists (IACP). It was The Compounding Pharmacy's 5th time joining the group.
The Mixon's visit to Congress came at a particularly critical time for their business, and similar compounding pharmacies across the country. Last September, a federal district court judge issued a ruling confirming that, because of their customized nature, compounded preparations are exempt from the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) new drug approval process. The ruling contradicts the baseless arguments of big pharmaceutical manufacturers, concerned that compounding pharmacies are eating into their profits. In fact, compounded medications account for not much more than one percent of prescriptions filled annually in the U.S. In the wake of this pro-compounding ruling, drug manufacturers have lobbied Congress extensively to create onerous new federal restrictions that would have dire consequences for patients who are prescribed compounded medicines.
Bill and Jan Mixon had the opportunity to meet one on one with Senator Richard Burr and Senator Elizabeth Dole as well as Congressman Patrick McHenry, all of North Carolina, to express their concerns with the proposed legislation. "This trip gave us a chance to have our voices heard by members of Congress," said Bill. "We may not have an army of lobbyists like the pharmaceutical giants, but we do help millions of patients every year, and that gives us a pretty loud voice on Capitol Hill."
Millions of Americans have conditions that off-the-shelf, one-size-fits-all pharmaceuticals cannot meet. For them, customized, compounded medicines prescribed by physicians and prepared by licensed, trained pharmacistsare the only way to better health.
We asked Congress to reach out to pharmacists when they are confronted with legislation to restrict access to compounded medications that is offered by critics backed by drug manufacturers. We also invited members of Congress to visit a compounding pharmacy in their district to see firsthand how we make a difference each and every day to further the health of our patients said L.D. King, executive director of IACP.
About The Compounding Pharmacy

Bill Mixon, RPh, MS, FIACP and Jan Mixon, BSN, RN are the owners of The Compounding Pharmacy. It has been in business since 1998 and is located at 750 4th St SW Hickory, NC. It specializes in compounding unique, one of a kind medications for human and veterinary use.