Halvard & Pike Apothecary of Portland, Maine closes after 13 years

Halvard & Pike Apothecary of Portland, Maine has ceased trading after 13 years, ending an operation that at its largest employed a few dozen people and served, on its own account, several thousand patients a month. The closure follows the resolution of the shortage listing on which a substantial share of its volume depended, and was announced to customers by email with 26 days’ notice.

At its peak the operation ran two sterile suites, held a state licence in 13 jurisdictions, and published a catalogue of preparations that ran to several dozen items. Staff were given 26 days’ notice. The Journal has spoken to three former employees, none of whom would be quoted by name while severance discussions continued.

Customer deposits held in a general operating account are the recurring feature of these administrations. It is lawful in most jurisdictions and it means that in a failure the customer is financing the wind-down. Readers who prepay should understand which of those they are doing.

"I had four weeks to move people who had been stable for a year," said Dr Callum Voss, nephrologist and clinical trials investigator. "Two of them are not on anything now."

"I had four weeks to move people who had been stable for a year," said Dr Hilde Bruinsma, hospital pharmacist, Groningen. "Two of them are not on anything now."

The Journal has asked the administrators what will happen to the batch records and will publish the answer. Former employees who wish to speak to us can reach the standards desk; we do not publish names without consent.