4/10/14 - Following claims it illegally mass-produced tainted drugs, a South Lyon pharmacy was fined $100,000 and has been barred from distributing drugs in Michigan while the ownerâs license was revoked. The fines and other sanctions were announced today. The Michigan Board of Pharmacy Disciplinary Subcommittee approved a consent order that calls for the permanent surrender of the pharmacy license for Specialty Medicine Compounding Pharmacy of South Lyon. Owner Kenny Walkupâs individual pharmacist license will be revoked for three years. Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette filed a formal complaint after the Department of Licensing and Regulatory Affairs received a report of tainted dextrose injections being distributed by the pharmacy in October 2013. Previous testimony from inspectors for the state and the FDA during hearings indicated the pharmacy was not following proper procedures to ensure products were sterile. Walkup was alleged to have been acting as a drug manufacturer by distributing large amounts of medication to various hospitals and clinics even though the pharmacy was only licensed to fill individual prescriptions. He had applied for a license to manufacture drugs in October 2012, but that application was denied. Walkupâs attorney previously maintained that regulations allow pharmacists with that type of license to provide the service if it is less than 5% of the pharmacyâs business. In addition to the licensing sanctions announced today, Schuette says heâs reviewing whether additional legal action is warranted in connection to reports of tainted injections allegedly manufactured and distributed by Specialty Medicine. Several of the pharmacyâs products at Henry Ford Hospital in Detroit were found to contain fungus although to date; there have been no reports of illness related to the drug. (JM)
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