Children's Hospital Colorado and STAQ Pharma Develop Solutions to Common Pediatric Medication Challenges

A new approach to handling medicine for children improves patient care, addresses drug shortages and reduces medical waste. STAQ (Safety, Transparency, Availability, Quality) Pharma and Children’s Hospital Colorado (Children’s Colorado) announced today the completion of product development work and the launch of several important sterile compounded medications that are widely used in pediatric hospitals. Offering pediatric concentrations and doses of commonly used sterile injectable compounded medications has multiple benefits.

Most medications come packaged in adult doses

Most commercially available medications are made and packaged for adults. However, in a pediatric setting, providers must carefully titrate the medication dosage according to the child’s weight and age. This individualized practice typically results in a much lower concentration and dose than that needed for an adult. It’s critical to titrate the concentration and dose accurately to provide benefit and not bring harm to the young patient. In many cases, any remaining medication left in the vial must be discarded.

Drug shortages can have an outsized impact on pediatric patients

In addition, drug shortages frequently impact pediatric practice because much of the available product is routed to adult hospitals, which leaves pediatric patients and practitioners at the bottom of the rung.

Doses pre-measured for pediatrics important to critical care settings

As a solution to these numerous and frequent challenges, Children’s Colorado and STAQ Pharma came together to identify and create concentrations and doses of pre-filled sterile injectables that are most used in pediatric surgical procedures and the critical care setting. Both organizations are leading the way in determining what medications are most in need for young patients and ensuring that these products are widely available to the broader pediatric health care community.

“In an emergent situation, where every second counts, having pre-filled sterile injectables of the medications that we use on a regular basis can save lives,” said Jerrod Milton, Chief Clinical Officer of Children’s Colorado, one of the nation’s leading and most expansive pediatric healthcare systems. “We saw a huge need for these products and are pleased to partner with STAQ Pharma to help solve medication needs that are common for all children’s hospitals in the U.S.” 

Partnership solves medication needs

“We are honored to be a partner and a key component in the pharmaceutical supply chain for Children’s Hospital Colorado,” shared Joe Bagan, CEO of STAQ Pharma. “We look forward to continuing to solve medication needs and drug shortage issues for the pediatric and adult communities across the country.”

Located in close proximity to Children’s Colorado’s pediatric hospital on the Anschutz Medical Campus, STAQ Pharma is an FDA-registered 503B outsourcing facility that produces sterile injectable medications that are compounded under the rigorous Current Good Manufacturing Practices (cGMP) standards of pharmaceutical production.

Founded in 1908 and recognized as a top ten children’s hospital by U.S. News & World Report, Children’s Colorado has established itself as a pioneer in the discovery of innovative and groundbreaking treatments that are shaping the future of pediatric healthcare worldwide.

Children’s Colorado, along with several other hospitals, is a part-owner of STAQ Pharma, which focuses on helping hospitals avoid costly and concerning drug shortage situations.