Acura Pharmaceuticals praises Indiana anti-meth effort

PALATINE - Acura Pharmaceuticals praised Indiana lawmakers for its efforts in stemming the abuse of pseudoephedrine-based cold and allergy products, which can be converted into the illegal drug methamphetamine.

The Indiana General Assembly recently passed legislation to require state pharmacists to use professional discretion when selling pseudoephedrine-based cold and allergy products, including encouraging the use of new meth-resistant formulations, in an effort to help reduce local methamphetamine production. The bill has been sent to Indiana Gov. Mike Pence for his signature and will require rule and policymaking by the Indiana Board of Pharmacy, including the determination of products that are meth-resistant.

If the bill is enacted, pharmacists who do not have a relationship with a customer may, at their discretion after consultation with the customer, sell only a methamphetamine resistant pseudoephedrine product such as Acura's Nexafed, or a minimal supply of a traditional pseudoephedrine product.

"Acura Pharmaceuticals is pleased that the Indiana lawmakers recognize the value of new meth-resistant abuse deterrent products in the legislation and that they are part of the solution to community-based meth production,'' said Acura President and CEO Robert B. Jones. "'Meth resistant products like our Nexafed were recognized for their ability to reduce meth-labs and limit the risk regarding the pharmacists' determination or judgment as to the customers' intentions.

"Nexafed can make a difference to Hoosiers and their communities by offering a better choice to buy safer products. Areas, such as the entire state of West Virginia, where a majority of pharmacies voluntarily adopted the exclusive use of meth resistant single ingredient pseudoephedrine products have seen significant decreases in meth lab incidents, as documented by law enforcement," Jones added, "Our commitment to making communities healthier and safer goes beyond our products and innovations through our financial support to the Meth Project, a program from the national nonprofit organization, The Partnership for Drug-Free Kids.''

Acura Pharmaceuticals is a Palatine-based specialty pharmaceutical company with its research and development facilities in Culver, Indiana, where its tamper-resistant products to combat medication abuse and misuse are developed.