Ameridose in Mass. extends closure until Feb.

WESTBOROUGH (AP) - A drug company with the same founders as acompounding pharmacy linked to a meningitis outbreak has agreed to remainclosed until at least Feb. 22.

Ameridose shut down voluntarily Oct. 10 to allow a joint state and federalinvestigation into its conditions and sterility practices. The company hassince agreed to extend its closure several times.

Ameridose was founded by the same brothers-in-law who started the NewEngland Compounding Center. The NECC produced a tainted steroid linked to afungal meningitis outbreak that's killed 39 people.

A federal report in November detailed 15 problems at Ameridose, includinginsufficient sterility testing and vermin where sterile products were packagedand stored.

An Ameridose spokesman said the company last month filed responses to thereport. He said Ameridose remains committed to cooperating with authorities.

Cox Media Group