Reports: Mass. health authorities shut down 10 compounding pharmacies over violations

NEW YORK - Surprise inspections at 40 compounding pharmacies in Massachusetts last fall have led to 10 being ordered to stop sterile compounding, according to published reports.

State health authorities sent cease-and-desist letters to 11 pharmacies, telling 10 to stop compounding altogether and one to stop compounding the drug sildenafil citrate. Twenty-one other pharmacies were allowed to continue compounding, but were cited for minor violations.

The inspections followed a nationwide outbreak of fungal meningitis linked to an injectable steroid drug prepared at the New England Compounding Center in Framingham, Mass. As of Monday, the outbreak had led to 696 cases of meningitis and 45 deaths in 20 states.