“Compounding is not simply about providing medication. It is a specialized pharmaceutical discipline that requires licensed pharmacists, appropriate facilities, established procedures, and close collaboration with physicians. Specialty compounding can provide physicians with an additional option when a commercially available medicine does not appropriately meet a patient’s prescribed needs, such as when a different strength, dosage form, or formulation is required.” ~Xenia Ruth Limatoc, RPh, Ascend Rx Head of Regulatory and Compliance
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| [Panel for Ascend Rx official launch from left: Xenia Ruth Limatoc, Head of Regulatory and Compliance, AIX Ventures Corporation; Benjamin G. Topacio, Director and Head of Sales, AIX Ventures Corporation; Marjorie Manrique-Vizco, RPh, Director and Head of Compounding, AIX Ventures Corporation; Sofia Alberto-Lista, Business Development Consultant, AIX Ventures Corporation; Hudson Polonini, BPharm, MSc, PhD, Global R&D Leader, Fagron, and Dr. Victor Zapanta, Neonatologist] |
Ascend Rx, a physician-focused specialty compounding pharmacy, has officially launched in the Philippines at the PRIMA ASEAN Congress on Longevity, Regenerative Medicine, and Human Optimization, where it served as the Philippine Regenerative and Integrative Medical Association’s (PRIMA) official specialty compounding partner.
The launch formally introduces Ascend Rx to the Philippine medical community as the company works to support physicians and healthcare institutions with personalized pharmaceutical solutions. Its specialty compounding services are intended for patients whose prescribed requirements may call for a specific strength, dosage form, formulation, or other pharmaceutical considerations that may not be available through commercially manufactured medicines.
A Quality- and Compliance-Led Approach to Compounding
Ascend Rx operates under relevant Philippine FDA licenses covering sterile compounding, non-sterile complex compounding, and the dispensing of vaccines and biologicals. The specialty compounding pharmacy is also licensed by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) to dispense customized formulations containing regulated drugs, subject to applicable regulatory controls.
Its laboratory infrastructure is designed to support compliance with USP <795> and USP <797> standards, with specific controls and provisions aligned with USP <800> for the safe handling of hazardous drugs. These internationally recognized standards, combined with professional oversight and applicable Philippine regulatory requirements, form an integral part of Ascend Rx’s quality- and compliance-focused approach to specialty compounding.
Central to its operating model is a pharmacist-to-physician approach. Physicians identify the patient’s clinical requirements and issue the appropriate prescription, while pharmacists evaluate the feasibility of preparing the prescribed formulation and contribute pharmaceutical expertise on factors such as dosage form and strength.
Bringing Responsible Compounding to the Medical Community
Held from September 24 to 26 at the Grand Hyatt Manila, the PRIMA ASEAN Congress on Longevity, Regenerative Medicine, and Human Optimization marked its 11th year of bringing together physicians, healthcare professionals, researchers, educators, and advocates to exchange insights on developments in longevity, regenerative medicine, and integrative healthcare.
As the Philippine Regenerative and Integrative Medical Association’s (PRIMA) official specialty compounding partner, Ascend Rx participated in the congress as an opportunity to engage with healthcare professionals on responsible pharmaceutical compounding, personalized medication solutions, and the importance of physician-pharmacist collaboration in addressing individualized patient needs.
“PRIMA brings together physicians who are looking at how medical practice continues to evolve and how they can better respond to changing patient needs. This aligns with the direction Ascend Rx wants to take, supporting physicians with professionally guided pharmaceutical options when a patient’s prescribed needs call for a more individualized formulation.” ~Sofia Alberto-Lista, Business Development Consultant, AIX Ventures Corp.
Ascend Rx further contributed to the congress program by bringing two international speakers to share their expertise on personalized healthcare and specialty compounding. Dr. Rebecca Poet, a women’s health specialist based in London, presented “Personalized Hormone Optimization for Women’s Long-term Health,” highlighting considerations surrounding individualized approaches to women’s health. Meanwhile, Hudson Polonini, PharmD, MSc, Global R&D Director of Fagron, presented “The Science and Quality Behind Personalized Compounding,” focusing on the scientific and quality considerations involved in personalized pharmaceutical compounding.
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| Ascend Rx’s booth at the PRIMA ASEAN Congress featured equipment and sample formulations used to introduce attending physicians to the specialty compounding pharmacy and its approach to personalized pharmaceutical care. |
At the Ascend Rx booth, licensed pharmacists and physicians provided attending doctors with an overview of specialty compounding, including the equipment and processes used at the company’s facility. The discussions also explored how physicians can work closely with pharmacists when a patient’s prescription requires an individualized pharmaceutical formulation.
Supporting the Advancement of Compounding in the Philippines
Beyond its partnership with PRIMA, Ascend Rx aims to contribute to the continued development of pharmaceutical compounding in the Philippines through collaboration with healthcare professionals, academic institutions, industry stakeholders, and policymakers.
The company seeks to work with relevant stakeholders and policymakers toward the development of national compounding guidelines that reflect the realities and requirements of local practice. It also aims to support the professional and academic communities through partnerships, collegiate internship programs, and educational initiatives designed to expand knowledge and exposure to specialty compounding.
As personalized pharmaceutical care continues to evolve, Ascend Rx sees opportunities to strengthen local expertise in specialty compounding while creating additional pathways for Filipino pharmacists and other pharmaceutical professionals to develop specialized skills.
Through its pharmacist-to-physician model, Ascend Rx aims to further encourage collaboration between the two professions while keeping personalized pharmaceutical care anchored in valid prescriptions, professional oversight, quality standards, and regulatory compliance.
Discover more about specialty compounding and personalized care vetted by licensed physicians and pharmacists, and visit ascendrx.com.ph. Follow Ascend Rx for the latest updates and facts on LinkedIn, Instagram, and Facebook.
