Blumenthal Statement In Response To FDA Meningitis Announcement

(Hartford, CT) – Today, Senator Richard Blumenthal (D-Conn.) issued the following statement in response to the Food and Drug Administration’s (FDA) announcement that the agency is now investigating two more drugs from the New England Compounding Center, a Massachusetts compounding pharmacy linked to the meningitis outbreak that has sickened 214 people and killed 15:

Today’s announcement from the FDA that additional drug products from the NECC may have also been contaminated by the same deadly fungus already infecting hundreds nationwide with fungal meningitis further underscores the need for an immediate criminal investigation. The NECC, its officers and employees, and others should be held accountable for this horrific tragedy. The scope of this disaster, which only increases by the day — is a call to action for increased federal oversight of these unauthorized drug manufacturers masquerading as compounding pharmacies. I remain concerned about the reach of compounding centers like the NECC, which often make drugs in large quantities without the regulation generally applied to pharmaceutical drug makers assuring that products are safe and effective.