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503B Outsourcing Facilities

FDA-registered 503B outsourcing facilities operate under current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) standards and may compound medications for office use without patient-specific prescriptions. These facilities serve hospitals, surgery centers, clinics, and medical practices requiring larger quantities of compounded medications.

6 503B facilities
FDA registered
cGMP standards

503B Outsourcing: Key Facts for Providers

FDA Registration and cGMP

503B outsourcing facilities must register with the FDA and are subject to FDA inspection and oversight. They must comply with current Good Manufacturing Practice (cGMP) standards, which include requirements for facility design, equipment qualification, process validation, quality control testing, and documentation. This level of oversight provides greater quality assurance than 503A pharmacies.

Office-Use Compounding

A key advantage of 503B facilities is the ability to compound medications for office use — meaning healthcare providers can purchase compounded medications in bulk for administration to patients in their practice without a patient-specific prescription. This is particularly valuable for practices that administer medications in-office, such as IV therapy clinics, surgery centers, and injection-based practices.

Drug Shortage Compounding

503B facilities may compound drugs that are on the FDA's official drug shortage list, providing healthcare providers with access to medications that are temporarily unavailable commercially. This has been particularly relevant for GLP-1 medications, certain sterile preparations, and other drugs that have experienced supply chain disruptions.

503B Outsourcing Facilities — Provider Directory

Click any facility to view the full profile including formulary, FDA registration status, and provider onboarding information.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is a 503B outsourcing facility?

A 503B outsourcing facility is a compounding pharmacy registered with the FDA and subject to cGMP standards. Unlike 503A pharmacies, 503B facilities may compound medications in larger quantities for office use without patient-specific prescriptions.

How are 503B facilities different from pharmaceutical manufacturers?

503B facilities are subject to many of the same quality standards as pharmaceutical manufacturers (cGMP), but are not required to obtain FDA approval for each drug product. They may only compound drugs on the FDA's drug shortage list or drugs not commercially available.

Can providers purchase 503B compounds for office use?

Yes. Licensed healthcare providers and facilities may purchase compounded medications from 503B outsourcing facilities for office use — meaning for administration to patients in their practice — without a patient-specific prescription. This is a key advantage for practices that administer medications in-office.

How do I verify a 503B facility's FDA registration?

FDA-registered 503B outsourcing facilities are listed on the FDA's website at fda.gov. Providers can search the outsourcing facility list to verify registration status, review inspection history, and check for any warning letters or enforcement actions.

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