On July 14, Iowa’s Administrative Rules Review Committee was set to approve updated pharmacy practice regulations that would bring the state in line with current USP guidelines. But after receiving a last-minute letter and testimony from Novo Nordisk complaining (again) about pharmacy compounding, the committee opted to delay implementation. The revised statewide rules for all pharmacists are now on hold until the ARRC reconvenes on August 11. It seems even in Iowa, big pharma’s misleading objections can slow the wheels of regulatory progress.
APC is pushing back. We’re working with the Iowa Pharmacy Association on a formal response to the ARRC defending proposed rulemakings ARC 9340C and ARC 9338C. In our letter, we’ll challenge the drugmaker’s characterization of the rules as allowing “wholesale distribution of unapproved drugs,” clarify the legal role of 503B outsourcing facilities, and highlight the critical need for compounded medications well beyond GLP-1 therapies.
We’ll also call out the broader, coordinated campaign by Novo and Lilly to restrict lawful pharmacy compounding through lawsuits, lobbying, and misleading public messaging — and we’ll urge the ARRC not to allow corporate interests to derail important patient access protections.