FDA had in mind to close NECC in 2003

In 2003 the FDA had in mind to shut down the New England Compounding Center (NECC) that recently caused the meningitis outbreak in some states of America. The NECC manufactured contaminated Methylprednisolone Acetate injections. Over 400 individuals that administered the contaminated steroid injections got fungal meningitis. This illness turned out to be fatal for 39 persons.
According to a recent report published by the House of Energy and Commerce Committee, the meningitis outbreak could have been prevented. The report revealed many cases connected with the Massachusetts pharmacy that should have been closed by the FDA earlier.
The FDA stated in 2003 that the NECC should not have produced preparations till improving of the situation. But ultimately the FDA didn’t prohibit manufacture of products at the NECC. Since the NECC was claimed to be a pharmacy, it should have been monitored by Massachusetts officials. So, the FDA let Massachusetts colleagues to resolve the problem. As for Massachusetts officials, they didn’t ban manufacture of medicines at once. The NECC continued to produce medicines. Just Barry Cadden, the owner of the pharmacy, got reprimand.
Furthermore, the NECC was guilty of some illicit actions. The company acted improperly under its license. While the NECC was a pharmacy, it acted as a manufacturer and shipped thousands doses of drugs to hospitals and individual patients.
In 2002 some individuals got unusual adverse reactions after they had got bethamethasone injections manufactured by the NECC.
Later some individuals that received methylprednisolone acetate injections produced by the Massachusetts pharmacy were contaminated with bacterial meningitis. Since these individuals received full recovery because of treatment with antibiotics, the case was forgotten. The Massachusetts company was not punished for the contaminated preparations.
These and even several other cases manifest that the NECC should have sanctioned earlier. The pharmacy should have been closed for its illegal and improper operations. But the Compounding Center was never sentenced to any severe penalties. As a result, the pharmacy continued to manufacture drugs which were dangerous for consumers’ health. Finally, the meningitis outbreak caused by tainted injections of the Massachusetts pharmacy spread to certain states and sickened many individuals. If the pharmacy had been shut down earlier, the contamination with deadly fungal meningitis would not have taken place.