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3PC-035 Advantages of centralised faricimab compounding in the pharmacy service: greater safety, lower costs

ejhpharm · 2026-03-18 · canonical JSON source

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Background and Importance Safety in the compounding of sterile medicines in pharmacy services relies on the implementation of Good Pharmaceutical Practices (GPP), which include appropriate working areas, strict environmental controls, physical separation of activities to prevent cross-contamination and errors, and restricted access for professionals undergoing continuous training.Aim and Objectives To assess the benefits of centralised compounding of faricimab syringes under sterile conditions compared to dispensing vials for direct administration in the ophthalmology department (OD), including associated cost savings.Material and Methods A retrospective observational study was conducted in a tertiary hospital between October 2024 and July 2025. Data collected included: syringes prepared in the pharmacy department, those submitted to the microbiology department for microbiological quality control (mQC), and administrations recorded by the OD. Costs of syringes were compared with a hypothetical scenario using vials.Syringes were prepared in a horizontal laminar-flow hood following GPP, using the basic ZeroResidual kit (bZRk), which includes sterile, silicone-free, low dead volume, single-use 0.2mL syringes, disposable hypodermic needles, latex-free protective caps, and auxiliary bubble adapters. They were stored in individual light-protective bags, at 2-8°C for up to 28 days.Costs of faricimab vial and associated consumables were based on hospital’s official purchase price.Results During the study period, 2,545 syringes were prepared from 802 vials, yielding 3.17 syringes from each vial. Given the unit cost of €465.35 for faricimab vials and €30 for bZRk, the estimated cost per syringe was €176.65, representing a 62% reduction per administration. Of the total, 162 syringes were used for mQC, leaving 2,383 available for clinical use.In the hypothetical vial-based scenario, the total cost would have been €1,108,929.05, whereas centralised compounding lowered the cost to €449,560.70, achieving savings of €659,368.35.The OD reported enhanced safety due to sterile compounding and mQC, greater ease of use, and reduced waiting times compared to on-site preparation.Indirect costs arising from preparation by nursing staff were not included, representing a limitation of the study.Conclusion and Relevance Centralised compounding of faricimab syringes led to substantial cost savings in public healthcare, while also enhancing patient safety through sterile preparation and rigorous mQC.Additionally, it improved ophthalmologists’ satisfaction due to its ease of use and reduced patient waiting times.Conflict of Interest No conflict of interest