A pharmacist whose compounding operation was linked to a major meningitis outbreak is facing a trial this week on 25 charges of second-degree murder.
50-year-old Barry Cadden, who was the owner and head pharmacist of the New England Compounding Center, allegedly presided over the compounding of vials of methylprednisolone acetate which were alleged to be the subject of fungal contamination.
More than 700 people in 20 states were diagnosed with fungal meningitis in 2012 after using the steroid medication.
The owners of the pharmacy have already faced a range of legal action and have created a US$100m fund for victims of the outbreak.
Prosecutors allege Cadden was directly responsible for 25 of the deaths, with the pharmacist facing a maximum of life in prison if convicted on all counts.
The above article was sent to subscribers in Pharmacy Daily's issue from 05 Jan 17
To see the full newsletter, see the embedded issue below or CLICK HERE to download Pharmacy Daily from 05 Jan 17
