Indiana Pharmacy Board Revokes NECC's License

The Indiana Board of Pharmacy agreed to revoke New England Compounding Center’s license for its connection to the fatal meningitis outbreak. The Framingham-based pharmacy reached a voluntary revocation agreement last week with the Indiana Attorney General.

“Public health and safety is a top priority and today’s action was a necessary step to ensure this company, which put patients unnecessarily at risk, does not operate within our state’s borders going forward,” AG Greg Zoeller said in the press release.

Zoeller said a license revocation means the company cannot operate in Indiana for at least seven years. The company could apply for a new license after that time, but the board would have to approve the license application.

In November, the Indiana Board of Pharmacy voted to indefinitely suspend the compounding pharmacy's non-resident pharmacy license and the Attorney General’s office recently filed a licensing complaint against the company. Zoeller said the pharmacy failed to ensure its epidural steroid injections were safe for patients, which led to devastating harm, reported the News-Sentinel newspaper.

Nationwide, the meningitis outbreak tied to NECC has killed 45 individuals and infected 696 cases in 20 states. In Indians, 10 people died.

NECC filed for bankruptcy protection just before Christmas.

The Framingham pharmacy has closed, surrendered its Massachusetts license, and recalled its products.

A federal judge has ruled any criminal case against a Framingham specialty pharmacy New England Compounding Center (NECC) would have priority over the scores of civil suits.

Later, NECC recalled every product made and laid off all employees.

Later, CDC and FDA officials confirmed a fungus was found in those recalled steroids and recently, fungus and bacteria were found in other NECC products.

The FDA released a list of customers, who received products from NECC in Framingham on or after May 21.

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Click here to find all of Framingham Patch’s coverage of NECC and the meningitis outbreak.