Angels for Change Announces Inaugural Grant to Bolster the Supply Chain and End Drug Shortages
Tampa, Florida – March 31, 2022—Today Angels for Change, a leading advocacy organization for ending drug shortages, announced a historic move to enter the grantmaking space to reduce patient-level impact of drug shortages.
“Since our founding, Angels for Change has been ending drug shortages for our most vulnerable patients. As we work to end all healthcare crises created by drug shortages, we are advocating for, and supporting, public-private partnerships which are necessary for our mission to succeed,” said Laura Bray, founder and Chief Change Maker at Angels for Change.
“Today we launch a pilot project to directly help patients involved in a life-saving drug shortage through a grant to STAQ Pharma, a leading 503B outsourcing facility. This project will add needed capacity and supply of Concentrated Electrolytes, specifically Potassium Chloride (KCl) and 23.4% Sodium Chloride (NaCL), two essential medicines, to the marketplace during a time of shortage. Doctors must have the tools they need to save patients, and patients must have access to life-saving medicines,” stated Bray.
There are no replacements for concentrated electrolyte and mineral injections known as Total Parenteral Nutrition (TPN), representing a very serious concern to patients when the drugs are unavailable. Neonates and children are two of the three most vulnerable patient populations reliant on TPN leading to a disproportionate drug-shortage impact on children’s hospitals serving these patients. For many years electrolyte and mineral shortages have been an intermittent issue; taking steps to reduce the impact of these shortages is necessary to support patient care.
“All of these factors came together to make this a perfect time to collaborate on this shortage. Seeking creative solutions to solve drug shortages is critical to support our most vulnerable patients,” said Terri Lyle Wilson, director, pharmacy, Supply Chain Services, Children’s Hospital Association. “Collaborating with partners like Angels for Change and STAQ Pharma allows us to accelerate that impact.”
“I would like to thank STAQ Pharma and Children’s Hospital Association for their willingness to engage in this pilot and do the work needed to increase supply of these vital drugs in a short market. Their willingness to collaborate and brainstorm on patient-focused solutions is refreshing. I hope this is the first of many projects. We will monitor the impact of this pilot and release a white paper later this year,” said Bray.
“503B’s are uniquely positioned to provide needed medications in times of shortage. STAQ Pharma is committed to supporting hospital pharmacies with their medication needs to care for their patients. We are honored to be chosen by Angels for Change and the Children’s Hospital Association to address this critical shortage situation,” said Mark Spiecker, president of STAQ Pharma. “The support of nationally-recognized pediatric hospital systems, along with Angels for Change, allowed us to develop and deliver these concentrated electrolyte medications to ease the shortage that is currently impacting our most vulnerable pediatric patients.”
How can you support the race to end drug shortages? Connect with organizations like Angels for Change, get involved with SummitONE, and partner with The End Drug Shortages Alliance to make an impact.
About Angels for Change
Angels for Change is a volunteer run organization on a mission to end drug shortages through advocacy, awareness, and a resilient supply chain. We advocate on behalf of any patient in a life-saving drug shortage, while building relationships with patients and members of the pharmaceutical supply chain ending all healthcare crises created by drug shortages. www.angelsforchange.org
About STAQ Pharma Inc.
STAQ Pharma (Safety, Transparency, Availability, Quality) is a 503B Outsourcing facility headquartered in Denver, CO. STAQ is a CGMP manufacturing facility designed to produce compounded medications in prefilled syringes for anesthesia and surgical procedures. STAQ produces sterile to sterile and non-sterile to sterile and relies heavily on automation, ensuring adequate supply and compliance with FDA regulations. STAQ is focused on adult and pediatrics, to ensure that our biggest and littlest patients get the right dose at the right concentrations. You can learn more about us at www.staqpharma.com.
About Children’s Hospital Association
The Children’s Hospital Association is the national voice for more than 220 children’s hospitals. They are advancing child health through innovation in the quality, cost, and delivery of care in children’s hospitals and health systems. About CHA (childrenshospitals.org)