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FDA 503b

Meaning

A specific designation under the Drug Quality and Security Act (DQSA) of 2013 for an outsourcing facility, which is a specialized type of compounding pharmacy that can prepare sterile and non-sterile compounded drugs for “office use” without a patient-specific prescription. Unlike traditional compounding pharmacies (503A), a 503B facility is subject to heightened oversight by the FDA, including adherence to Current Good Manufacturing Practice (CGMP) requirements. This structure ensures a higher standard of quality and safety for compounded medications distributed broadly to clinics and hospitals.