Concerns about Filipinos obtaining compounded versions from unlicensed or unauthorized sources have risen amid the popularity of online prescription. The issue has created confusion around what compounded medicines actually are. It has likewise brought attention to why these compounded medicines may be prescribed and how patients should access them responsibly.
Simply put, a compounded medicine is a medication prepared for an individual patient based on a physician’s prescription. A patient may need one when a commercially available medicine does not meet their prescribed needs such as when a different strength, dosage form or formulation is required.
For example, a child or elderly patient may need a medicine in a different strength or a form that is easier to take. In other cases, a patient may need a formulation that does not contain a particular ingredient because of a sensitivity. These adjustments are based on the patient’s medical needs and a physician’s prescription – not something patients decide on their own.
“Compounding does not mean patients can simply choose or customize their own medicines. It starts with a licensed physician who determines what a patient needs and provides the appropriate prescription. A licensed pharmacist then prepares that medication based on that prescription,” shares Sofia Alberto-Lista, business development consultant with AIX Ventures Corporation.
“The physician and pharmacist each has an important role in making sure that compounding is guided by the patient’s individual medical needs. It should never be viewed as a way to bypass a physician consultation or gain easier access to prescription medicine,” she adds.
Why the doctor and pharmacist work together
At Ascend Rx, a physician-focused specialty compounding pharmacy under AIX Ventures Corporation, pharmacists work directly with licensed physicians in preparing prescribed compounded medicines. The company supports physicians and healthcare institutions through professionally guided, quality-led and compliance-first pharmaceutical services. The physician determines the patient’s clinical needs and appropriate prescription, while the pharmacist assesses the feasibility of preparing the prescribed formulation and works within the appropriate professional and regulatory requirements.
This collaboration gives physicians an additional option in specific cases where a personalized formulation may be appropriate for the patient.
Ascend Rx operates under relevant Philippine FDA licenses covering sterile compounding, non-sterile complex compounding, and the dispensing of vaccines and biologicals. It is likewise licensed by the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency (PDEA) for the dispensing of compounded formulations containing regulated drugs, subject to applicable regulatory controls.
Its laboratory is designed to support compliance with USP <795> and USP <797> requirements, with specific controls and provisions aligned with USP <800> for the handling of hazardous drugs. By applying these internationally recognized standards alongside professional oversight and regulatory requirements, Ascend Rx aims to support responsible pharmaceutical compounding in the Philippines.
For patients, the takeaway is straightforward: Compounded medicines should not be sourced independently from social media, unauthorized online sellers or other unverified sources. Patients should first consult a qualified healthcare professional who can determine whether a compounded medicine is appropriate for their individual medical needs.
Bringing the conversation to the medical community
Because physicians play a central role in determining when compounded medicines may be appropriate, Ascend Rx is also bringing the conversation around responsible compounding and personalized healthcare to the medical community.
As part of its formal introduction to the Philippine medical community, Ascend Rx will participate as a Platinum Plus Sponsor of the PRIMA ASEAN Congress on Longevity, Regenerative Medicine, and Human Optimization, happening from September 24 to 26, 2026, at the Grand Hyatt Manila.
Organized by the Philippine Regenerative and Integrative Medical Association (PRIMA), a physician-led, nonstock, nonprofit professional medical organization, the congress will bring together physicians, scientists and healthcare professionals from across the region to discuss developments in longevity medicine, precision health, peptides, nutrition and human performance.
For Ascend Rx, the congress provides a platform to introduce its approach to specialized pharmaceutical care and engage healthcare professionals on responsible compounding and the evolving needs of personalized healthcare.
Through its participation, Ascend Rx aims to encourage greater understanding of responsible compounding and reinforce a simple principle: personalized medicine should remain grounded in professional medical guidance, with physicians and pharmacists working together around the needs of each patient.
Supporting the advancement of compounding in the Philippines
Beyond its role as a compounding facility, Ascend Rx aims to contribute to the advancement of pharmaceutical compounding in the Philippines. The company seeks to collaborate with relevant stakeholders and policymakers toward the development of national compounding guidelines grounded in the realities and requirements of local practice.
Ascend Rx also supports professional and academic communities through partnerships, collegiate internship programs and educational initiatives. Through these collaborations, the company seeks to contribute to the development of skilled Filipino pharmaceutical professionals, strengthen local expertise and support the continued advancement of Philippine healthcare.
