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Waltham fertility pharmacy issues voluntary recall

WALTHAM, Mass. (MyFoxBoston.com) – A specialty pharmacy is conducting a voluntary recall of compounded medications shipped to its patients over the past three months.

Village Fertility Pharmacy issued the recall after something was found floating in a vial and was ordered by the Massachusetts Board of Pharmacy to cease and desist all sterile compounding on Feb. 20.

The recall affected two lots of Progesterone and several medications: Progesterone Injection Cottonseed Oil 50 MG/ML, Progesterone Injection Olive Oil 50 MG/ML, 100 MG/ML, Progesterone Injection Sesame Oil 50 MG/ML, 100 MG/ML, Progesterone Injection Ethyl Oleate 50 MG/ML, 100 MG/ML, and Hydroxy Progesterone Caproate 250 MG/ML.

After an initial investigation, Village and the Massachusetts Board of Pharmacy decided to expand the recall to include Compounded Leuprolide Acetate 1MG/.2ML.

According to the pharmacy, the medications were shipped to 39 states to approximately 2,100 patients. Most of the patients reside in Massachusetts.

Investigators are still trying to determine the substance found in the vile and what the effect would be on people.

"To date, there have been no reports of patient harm and the nature of the contaminants has not yet been determined. Village Pharmacy was previously inspected by Board inspectors in November who found minor deficiencies that were addressed through a corrective plan. The matter is currently under investigation by the Board of Pharmacy, in collaboration with the U.S. Food and Drug Administration," the Department of Public Health said in a statement.

The medications are used for women who are undergoing in vitro fertilization (IVF)

More testing is being conducted and results will be released in the coming days.

According to the pharmacy, none of their patients have reported any adverse effects.

Patients with questions can call Village Fertility Pharmacy at 1-888-965-5813.