*** NOTICE TO PHYSICIANS: Your Relationship With Prialt is Changing ***

Recently, we received a phone call from a client, located in Nevada, informing us that a Prialt Sales Representative had just met with her office to explain the changes being implemented at Jazz Pharmaceuticals—the maker of Prialt—that will prohibit her practice from purchasing its compounded Prialt medications from Hartley Medical.  This came as shock to her and she expressed that she didn’t quite know why this was happening.  As one of the nation’s leading providers of compounded medications (many containing Prialt) you might imagine our skepticism as we assumed that we would have undoubtedly been informed of any changes well ahead of this particular phone call.  Nevertheless, we reached out to Jazz Pharmaceuticals and, after numerous attempts, managed to get a ‘higher-up’ on the line.  Indeed, we learned that Jazz has decided to eliminate all (but one) pharmacies’ abilities to purchase, compound, and distribute Prialt to physicians across the country.  This is an unfortunate, unwelcome, and, in our most humble opinion, an unnecessary change that will affect your practice; knowing your options and next-steps is vital.

More clients have since come to us for clarification and additional information.  Quite frankly, and regrettably, we were not given any more details by our contacts at Jazz than our clients were by theirs.  We were told this change reflects “Jazz Pharmaceutical’s desire to enhance patient/physician relationships; it is intended to centralize distribution.”  This rationale, however, seems counterintuitive. In light of recent events involving quality assurance failures at a compounding pharmacy, there could not have been a worse time to, essentially, demand that physicians place their trust and, most importantly, the safety of their patients in the hands of a pharmacy with which they have neither any prior relationship, nor, perhaps, any knowledge of its existence.  Also, to our dismay, our phone call to Jazz and conversations with clients have exposed that the company is making this change prior to having all components thought out, as health systems—which require contracts with outsourced compounding pharmacies—cannot simply order from a new provider.  Additionally, Prialt will no longer be available in trial dosing concentrations.  Rather, Jazz requires that the desired amount be drawn from a vial, and the remainder of the drug wasted—all at the expense of the patient.  This doesn’t sound like enhancing the patient/physician relationship…With this said, performing due diligence will be paramount should you choose to continue your use of Prialt with this pharmacy. 

Hartley Medical prides itself on being the industry leader in quality.  We take measures above and beyond what is required by USP<797> standards to ensure that our clients are receiving only the highest quality compounded pharmaceuticals.  We do this because our commitment to quality equates to safer medications for the patient and less risk taken on by the physician.  Whatever compounding pharmacy you will need to work with to receive your Prialt, it is imperative that you get to know their quality assurance program.  Understand their policies and procedures, and become familiar with how and how often they evaluate their staff, facilities, and products.  If feasible, perform a site visit.  You must feel confident that this pharmacy is operating at a level that is in your best interest.  This should not be an informal interview process.  For additional questions, please see our FAQs for evaluating compounding pharmacies here.

We would like to express our empathy to doctors who will, no doubt, be burdened by this decision.  We understand you have a trusted relationship with your compounding pharmacy and that, in light of recent events, making any adjustments to that relationship can and will cause worry, and perhaps more than a little inconvenience.  Hartley Medical, along with pain practitioners, was not consulted in this decision; we do not endorse this decision, and we feel it to be inconsiderate and imprudent.  We trust that Jazz Pharmaceuticals will make its long-term vision and motives behind this decision clearer with time, and hope, sincerely, that they will align with advancing the treatment that patients deserve, and the service that physicians expect.  In the meantime, perform due diligence before any changes are implemented to give yourself and your patients greater confidence moving forward.

As of 11/30/2012, Hartley Medical will no longer be able to purchase Prialt from Jazz Pharmaceuticals.  We ask that our clients act promptly to resolve this inconvenience in order to mitigate any disruptions in patient treatment.  You may also contact your Prialt Sales Representative with any questions or concerns.