The following blog is written by Epicur Pharma’s Advisory Council Emeritus member Bob Murtaugh, DVM, MS, DACVIM, DACVECC, FCCM. Bob is a trusted voice in the veterinary industry, becoming Chief Medical Officer at Pathway in 2015 and serving as Chairman of American Board of Veterinary Specialties (AVMA). Below, Bob shares his personal insights on the value of 503B medications and outsourcing facilities in the veterinary industry.
From Bob:
Why 503B? This is a question that has been asked by veterinary professionals since outsourcing facilities started making their way into the industry. For many, it was easier to stick to the same provider whether they were 503B or 503A.
The new USP guidelines that rolled out on November 1, limiting beyond-use dates at 503A pharmacies, have changed the game. Having a 503B partner is more important than ever – for patient care and veterinary practice compliance.
Here are the main reasons I made the switch to 503B manufactured medications for my patients (and why you should, too!):
Reason one, which is also the most important reason in my opinion, is exact dosing for efficacy and safety. Working with a 503B outsourcing facility provides your practice with an increased number of formulations and more varieties of standard offerings. Plus, the convenience for clinics and clients to have medications in stock means faster treatment and better care.
Given the variety of conditions and pets we treat as veterinarians, having a 503B ally like Epicur Pharma is a must! Did you know they have one of the largest 503B product portfolios in veterinary medicine?
Standard Versus Exact Dosage
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Complete Product List
For easy ordering of the products your patients need. Explore our complete product portfolio of 100% manufactured 503B drugs.
Reason two? There really is a difference in quality. Because 503B outsourcing facilities must meet current good manufacturing processes (cGMP) as defined by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA), we as veterinarians can be guaranteed that dosage formulations within and across batches of drugs manufactured for our patients are exact and consistent. Plus, every batch is tested. This maximizes efficacy and minimizes the potential for toxicity. Potential contamination with substances such as bacterial endotoxins is virtually eliminated in a 503B manufacturing process.
A Glimpse Into a 503B Facility: Manufacturing Quality in Veterinary Medicine
Take an inside look at Epicur Pharma’s 503B facility and the processes in place that assure each batch meets quality standards.
My third reason is product selection and availability. The ability of 503B facilities to manufacture and dispense larger batches of compounded drugs enables companies like Epicur to stock a wider variety of dosing options and formulations, including flavors for use in our veterinary patients who have a pickier palette.
503B pharmacy partners ensure that we provide our patients with the right drug at the right dose at the right time to maximize efficacy of treatment. The stringent regulations they must follow also make certain that the medications used in the formulations have been stored and handled in compliance with the necessary light, temperature, and humidity conditions. And, having on-hand compounded medication allows us to show clients how to administer the drug to ensure compliance and desired outcomes with subsequent at-home treatment.
If you haven’t switched to a 503B partner yet, now is the time! Epicur and Stokes make it easy.
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