Senator Franken’s staff invites you to participate in a conference call regarding the public health implications of oversight for compounded pharmaceuticals. As you may recall, last October, contaminated drugs traced to a New England compounding pharmacy were distributed to medical facilities across Minnesota and the country and administered to thousands of unwitting patients, 55 of whom died when the medications caused fungal meningitis.

Senator Franken has been working with his colleagues on the Senate Health, Education, Labor and Pensions (HELP) committee on legislation that would help prevent future deaths related to contaminated medications, like those that resulted in a deadly national meningitis outbreak last fall. Sen. Franken’s legislation would improve patient safety by clarifying state and federal responsibilities for the oversight of drug compounding, which includes the making, mixing, diluting, or combining of drugs for patients. See below and attached documents for more information about this bill.

This legislation has important implications for public health and Senator Franken’s staff would like to discuss this proposal with you. Please join public health advocates and Senator Franken’s MN and DC health staff for a conference call next week.

Monday, July 15, 8:30 am (central)

Call in number: (202) 228-0808 or (855) 428-0808      

Conference ID: 6325627