Tag Archives: McKesson

DSCSA

FDA Hammer Comes Down On McKesson For DSCSA Violations

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The internet lit up last week on the publication of an official warning letter from Alonza Cruse, Director, Office of Pharmaceutical Quality Operations, Office of Regulatory Affairs, to John H. Hammergren, CEO of McKesson Corporation, for violations of the Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA).  I’ve written about this situation before, back when the original FDA 483, notice of “inspectional observations”, was originally published (see “McKesson’s DSCSA 483 Explained”), but this new letter provides many more details of the incidents that led to that original notice, including some details of McKesson’s follow-up communications regarding the situation. 

Continue reading FDA Hammer Comes Down On McKesson For DSCSA Violations →
DSCSA

McKesson’s DSCSA 483 Explained

Back on July 3, 2018 the FDA issued a notice of “inspectional observations”—known as an “FDA Form 483”—containing observations that appeared to the inspector to be potential violations of certain sections of the Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA).  The FDA recently posted the form on their website, but did not post the response from the company.  I assume McKesson would have contested it.  Without knowing what McKesson said to the FDA in response, let’s take a closer look at the FDA’s logic and come up with our own thoughts. Continue reading McKesson’s DSCSA 483 Explained →

HDA

HDA’s 2017 Manufacturer Serialization Readiness Survey Results

There is a reason so many RxTrace essays have something to do with the Healthcare Distribution Alliance (HDA) (I won’t list them all, but here are two recent ones:  “HDA Traceability Seminar: RxTrace Future Topic List Explodes” and “HDA Schools FDA On DSCSA”).  It’s because they have their fingers in just about everything related to the US pharma supply chain’s preparation for compliance with the Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA).  HDA members are literally in the “center” of the supply chain, and the organization is at the center of many of the most important initiatives related to meeting the DSCSA, including their Origin master data sharing service (see “Dawn of HDA’s Origin, The Key to DSCSA Compliance”), their future Verification Router Service (VRS) (see “First Meeting of the HDA Verification Router Service Task Force”), and they hold the most important DSCSA conference every year (see “FDA Speaks About DSCSA At HDA”).  And their HDA Research Foundation now conducts the most important manufacturer DSCSA serialization readiness survey.  They just published the latest one.  Let’s take a look at it. Continue reading HDA’s 2017 Manufacturer Serialization Readiness Survey Results →

DSCSA

DSCSA Serialization: What Wholesalers Expect

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Image of McKesson's sign on their corporate headquarters building in San Francisco, CARecently, several of the larger U.S. wholesale distributors have sent letters to their suppliers to review what they expect from them relative to the Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA).  You may recall that these companies have provided requirements in advance of earlier DSCSA deadlines (see “U.S. Drug Wholesale Distributors Provide Direction To Manufacturers“).  These expectations are aimed at the November 27, 2017 serialization requirements and beyond. Continue reading DSCSA Serialization: What Wholesalers Expect →

FDA

FDA Forfeits Opportunity To Guide Industry

fda-building-2016-10-14-16-38-20I hope you were able to attend last Friday’s FDA DSCSA Public Meeting at FDA’s White Oak, Maryland campus (see “FDA To Hold DSCSA Public Meeting”).  If you missed it, make sure you listen in on the recording that the FDA will provide on the event webpage.  You can also submit written comments through that page as well.  The event was called “Progress Toward Implementing the Product Identification Requirements of the Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA)” and it consisted of very brief introductory comments by the FDA followed by presentations made by attendees who applied for a speaking slot.  Presentations covering progress toward the November 27, 2017 DSCSA serialization requirements were made by: Continue reading FDA Forfeits Opportunity To Guide Industry →

DSCSA, HDMA

HDMA DMC Serves Sizzling Steak With A Small Side Of Snake Oil

iStock_000043324250_SmallerAccording to the HDMA, their Distribution Management Conference and Expo in San Antonio last week broke the attendance record at more than 500 attendees, but for the life of me, I can’t figure out why the number wasn’t double that amount.  When you compare the value you receive by attending this (or any) HDMA event with what you receive from any third-party event, well, there isn’t any comparison.  HDMA serves sizzling steak to their soggy puffed rice.  The reason is not just the quality of the speakers.  In fact, as “speakers”, they really aren’t any better at speaking than any other group of people, but it is who they are and what they know that makes the difference.  And just as important, who else is in the audience that makes these events so special.  It’s not just what is going on in the sessions, but it is who you meet and what you learn in the hallways and networking breaks between sessions.  I’ve said this before (see “Terminology: Track and Trace, and Pedigree”). Continue reading HDMA DMC Serves Sizzling Steak With A Small Side Of Snake Oil →

wholesaler

U.S. Drug Wholesale Distributors Provide Direction To Manufacturers

Providing "direction"Over the next few years, the U.S. drug wholesale distributors are going to start dictating their specific requirements related to the Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA) to their suppliers.  For the “Big 3” U.S. wholesale distributors, those suppliers happen to be nearly every drug manufacturer who markets drugs in the United States.  The “Big 3” include McKesson, AmerisourceBergen and Cardinal Health, which together distribute about 85% of all drugs that pass through the domestic supply chain.

Of course, each segment has Continue reading U.S. Drug Wholesale Distributors Provide Direction To Manufacturers →

Thank You!

Thank You Ron Bone!

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Bone Ron Prototype 1
Ron Bone

Well over 18 months ago I learned that Ron Bone was stepping down as SVP of Distribution Support at McKesson.  He immediately became a solo consultant and was engaged directly with McKesson again, but this time he filled a part-time role.  This was Ron’s way of staying connected with the activities at McKesson related to meeting the federal Drug Supply Chain Security Act (DSCSA) which was on its journey toward enactment, and it was McKesson’s way of maintaining continuity in those efforts.  Win-win.

Ron originally intended to fully retire last July…then December…and now, someday.  Does anyone think it will happen this time?  Frankly, I hope not.  I think Ron is having too much fun, and everyone in the industry who knows him enjoys having Ron engaged as much as he is willing.  So take your time Ron.  No need to rush.

Like Bob Celeste, who departed GS1 US last month after serving as the lead traceability facilitator and motivator for the U.S. pharma supply chain (see “Thank You Bob Celeste!”), Ron was Continue reading Thank You Ron Bone! →