TAMPA, FL - Drug shortages are a significant crisis for our nation's patients, hospitals, physicians, and pharmacists. 99% of hospital pharmacists are navigating at least one essential medicine shortage every day. Patients and prescribers across the United States must have equal access to the medicines they need to survive.
In 2022, Angels for Change launched Project PROTECT, a new approach to mitigate drug shortages by building redundant onshore supply of vulnerable essential medicines. Utilizing drug shortage prediction powered by USP’s Medicine Supply Map, supply chain partnerships, and non-profit grants that incentivize production, we proactively predicted two shortages and increased supply, thus limiting patient impact of the disruption. This work resulted in 700,000 life-saving drug shortage treatments accessed by patients, mostly children, across the United States. Read more here.
Today, Angels for Change announces our 2023 Project PROTECT grant award winners and the seven essential medicines they will take on as Protectors. Each PROTECT grant was funded through grass roots, charitable fundraising activities and presented to representatives of PROTECT organizations in-person by Founder and Chief Change Maker, Laura Bray.
Fagron, a global leader in pharmaceutical compounding, was awarded a Project PROTECT grant on May 17, 2023, for the essential medication Dextrose. Fagron Sterile Services US (FSS), a leading FDA-registered and inspected 503B Outsourcing partner to hospitals, clinics, and ambulatory surgery centers in all 50 states, will produce this essential medication. FSS produces sterile medications at state-of-the-art facilities located in Boston, MA, and Wichita, KS.
FSS has a long history of supporting patient care through its work with IDNs and GPOs to create supply chain resiliency while advancing patient safety. With the Angels for Change grant, FSS will develop and produce Dextrose so that patients across the US will continue to have access to this at-risk medication. Dextrose is widely used for critical IV solutions and nutritional support.
"We are honored to be recognized as a Protector of Dextrose by Angels for Change," said Andrew Pulido, President, Fagron North America. "Our global footprint and our team's unwavering dedication to maintaining a robust supply chain help ensure that patients receive the vital medication they need – without disruption. This partnership serves as a testament to our ongoing commitment to patients and excellence in pharmaceutical compounding."
On June 28, 2023, Leiters Health was awarded 4 project PROTECT grants for Magnesium, Calcium Chloride, Potassium Acetate and Sodium Phosphate. Leiters provides high-quality compounded sterile preparations across the healthcare continuum to hospitals, surgery centers, clinics and physician offices. As part of its ongoing commitment to quality, compliance, and sterile manufacturing excellence, Leiters continues to invest in its state-of-the-art FDA-registered 503B facilities, including two existing facilities in Denver, Colorado, and a new facility in Buena, New Jersey, which will be operational in 2024.
“Drug shortages are a concerning public health issue. They cause major disruption to the healthcare supply chain, pharmacy operations, and ultimately negatively impact patient care," said Joseph Cosgrove, President, and Chief Executive Officer of Leiters Health. “We look forward to working with Angels for Change and we stand ready to support the critical medication needs of the healthcare community now and in the future.”
STAQ Pharma, a 503B Outsourcing Facility with locations in Denver, CO and Columbus, OH was awarded two project PROTECT grants on June 29, 2023 for Furosemide and Bumetanide. STAQ was also awarded 2 grants in 2022 for Potassium Chloride and Sodium Chloride becoming the Protector of 4 essential medicines. STAQ Pharma is known in the industry as the "Hospital Owned 503B'' because of its equity ownership by hospitals, its commitment to quality, its ability to produce long dated compounded products under cGMP, the on-going membership on its Board of Directors of Hospital Executives, and because of its work focusing on drug shortages experienced regularly by adult pediatric hospitals. Furosemide and Bumetanide are used to reduce extra fluid in the body (edema) caused by conditions such as congestive heart failure, liver disease, and kidney disease. There are limited alternatives to these drugs. Protecting them together will ensure consistent supply across the country in a ready to administer format.
“STAQ Pharma is proud to support Angels for Change and our partner hospitals through the PROTECT program. We have seen firsthand how this program has been able to support over 700,000 patients with lifesaving medications and are excited to continue into the next phase with additional medications where we can support millions of patients,” said President Mark Spiecker.
“Last year, we took the step to protect patients from shortage of just two medicines and that step resulted in 700,000 treatments being accessed. 700,000 times lives were saved! I am thankful that Fagron, Leiters, and STAQ Pharma were willing to become Protectors with us as we scale this project and proud that by the end of 2023, we will have protected patients from the impact of shortage for 9 essential medicines.” said Laura Bray.
Project PROTECT is a scalable model developed to protect US patients from the impact of more than 100 essential medicines vulnerable to shortage. Angels for Change is committed to continue to partner with the supply chain to protect these life-saving medicines ensuring access for all patients. To learn more about PROTECT go to https://www.angelsforchange.org/project-protect
