ASBM recently engaged on two bills in Colorado addressing oversight of drug compounding and patient safety. The organization supports SB 26-130, which adds targeted safeguards for med spas and other settings handling prescription drugs, helping ensure that these products are stored, handled, and administered safely.

At the same time, ASBM opposes HB 26-1262, which would limit Colorado’s ability to go beyond federal standards to address emerging risks in drug compounding. At a time when concerns are growing about the mass production and marketing of copycat medicines, states should retain the flexibility to strengthen oversight and respond to new safety challenges.

Together, these bills highlight an important policy question: whether states will take steps to enhance patient protections or risk weakening them. ASBM continues to support a balanced approach that preserves access to legitimate, patient-specific compounding while ensuring appropriate safeguards are in place to protect patients.

A recent Washington Post opinion piece details the devastating consequences that can occur when compounded medicines are used without adequate safeguards. The author, who suffered acute liver failure after taking a compounded GLP-1 product, describes a troubling reality: many patients assume compounded drugs are held to the same standards as FDA-approved medicines, when in fact they are not. 

ASBM Advisory Board Members Philip Schneider and Dean Jordan’s recently authored a Washington Times article about the importance of compounding oversight. Read it here.

Learn more about pharmacy compounding at ASBM’s microsite SafeRxCompounding.org