Talk to Your Pharmacist

In this episode, we chat with David Light, Founder & CEO, of the pharmacy and analytical lab company about drug safety and quality. High-level overview of Valisure:
-- Valisure is the first ever pharmacy attached to a laboratory where every batch of medication is analyzed before being dispensed.
-- Valisure’s mission is to help ensure the safety, quality, and transparency in the medications it delivers to consumers.
-- All medications at Valisure come with a certificate of analysis, similar to nutritional information on food, and are sold at no additional cost.
-- Valisure currently rejects over 10% of the batches we analyze for problems related to dosage, dissolution (how a pill dissolves), and the presence of carcinogens.
-- Approximately 80% of medications in the U.S. are made from materials coming from India and China
-- The $2 trillion global pharma supply chain is incredibly complex and medications can touch 10-20 hands before reaching the consumer.

Guest - David Light
Founder & CEO, Valisure
www.valisure.com

Selected media highlights:
New York Times: Zantac Products Should Not Be Sold or Used, F.D.A. Warns, Citing Cancer Danger
Bloomberg News: Carcinogen Found by Pharmacy in Popular U.S. Diabetes Drug
Washington Post Feature Story: A tiny pharmacy is identifying big problems with common drugs, including Zantac
Bloomberg Businessweek 9/16/19 Cover Story: Carcinogens Have Infiltrated the Generic Drug Supply in the U.S.
Reuters: Online pharmacy flags possible new impurity in blood pressure drug

Valisure and Govzilla Drug Quality Scores Collaboration: Press Release (Jan 8, 2020)

Rep. DeLauro Calls for Ranitidine Ban and Reintroduces Bill: Congressional Press Release (Valisure presented at joint press conference in US Capitol Building, Jan 10, 2020)
Sen. Warren, Cotton, Kaine and Romney Letter on Drug Safety and Reliance on China: Congressional Press Release (Valisure data directly discussed and cited in letter, Dec 9, 2019)

Covid-related:
Reuters (3/19/20): Potential coronavirus treatment touted by Trump already in shortage, pharmacists say
WSJ (2/28/20): FDA Cites Shortage of One Drug, Exposing Supply-Line Worry
BioSpace (3/26/20): Some Drugs Being Rationed as Suppliers Continue to See Increased Orders
The Hill (3/27/20): Trump must cut our dependence on Chinese drugs — whatever it takes

Host - Hillary Blackburn, PharmD, MBA
www.pharmacyadvisory.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/hillary-blackburn-67a92421/
@talktoyourpharmacist for Instagram and Facebook
@HillBlackburn Twitter

Show Notes

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What is Talk to Your Pharmacist?

We're dispensing stories of success from across the continuum of care.

Talk to Your Pharmacist is a podcast for pharmacists, student pharmacists, and others across the country to hear from industry leaders about their leadership stories and current healthcare topics. The Talk to Your Pharmacist podcast was founded and hosted by pharmacist, Dr. Hillary Blackburn.