FEATURELOOK
By Amy Dee Stephens
Qualgen Pivots to Produce Sanitizer An international pharmaceutical company is quietly tucked would need to, since they normally do not sell to the public. The away in Edmond, complete with high-tech sterile rooms company specializes in hormone therapy pellets that are natural and state-of-the-art laboratory. The company has produced and biologically-identical to what is produced by the body. scientifically-advanced compounds for medical facilities around “Initially, most of our clients were gynecologists, but that the world since 2012. Last month, the company shifted gears and has slowly changed with a better understanding of how is now producing over 1,000 gallons of hand sanitizer a day! hormone deficiency affects whole-body health, mood and even “As you know, it was impossible to get hand sanitizer just a few sleep. Now, our hormone pellets are being used by general weeks ago,” said Shaun Riney, CEO of Qualgen. “Since we are a practitioners, urologists, men’s clinics and med spas,” Riney said. licensed, bulk manufacturer of drug products, the Food & Drug Riney, whose background is in finance, has an entrepreneurial Administration (FDA) is allowing us to temporarily compound spirit. He was introduced to the pharmaceutical world by a alcohol-based hand sanitizer during the shortage.” doctor who was gathering global data to develop a precise According to Riney, who was eager to help hormone compound. Qualgen is now the during the Coronavirus pandemic, it took producer of that product, and because of its Qualgen is also about two weeks to switch gears. Fortunately, producing emergency success, Riney has since opened a lab in Brazil he had some extra warehouse space and was and is developing another one in Holland. drugs related to even able to hire eight additional employees “Not only do we have the purest pellet in the COVID-19 recovery for the project, including some local Goodwill world, no other custom compounder in the employees who were laid off. United States has such a broad international “We’re a small company, but we’re working around the reach for a small company.” clock now,” Riney said. “Our first batch of hand sanitizer alone In addition to Qualgen’s temporary foray into hand sanitizer was 22,000 gallons—so this is a massive undertaking. We are production, the company is producing other emergency drugs servicing our regular customers, mostly hospitals and first related to COVID-19 recovery, such as a throat relaxer needed to responders, but we are also trying to help the community.” help patients on ventilators. “We just sent a large order to the Federal Aviation “It’s a blessing for Qualgen to fill this void,” said Good. “We can Administration and to the Tribes,” said Nikki Good, director of not only give back, but it sustains us financially while many of our sales. “But half of our sales are going to private individuals who usual customer clinics are closed.” are living in fear that they can’t get hand sanitizer.” To learn more or place an order, visit qualgen.us/hand-sanitizer Riney admits that few people have heard of Qualgen, nor
12
l
EDMONDOUTLOOK.COM
l
MAY 2020
