A debate is still ongoing as to whether or not the Food and Drug Administration should be granted extended regulatory powers over compounding pharmacies. The issue was brought to the forefront after contaminated steroid injections from the New England Compounding Pharmacy led to a widespread outbreak that claimed the lives of more than 50 people and caused 700 to suffer an illness. The Senate Health, Education, Labor, and Pensions Committee looks to be largely in favor of the creation of a new “compounding” category that would be subject to FDA regulations. However, the bill does not curry the same kind of support in the House, where lawmakers are more divided on the issue. Nevertheless, state regulators and the FDA alike have spoken about the need for such a law.
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