Pharmacy preparations: Back in the limelight? Pharmacists make up your mind!

In this contribution to the theme issue recognizing prof. Florence's achievements as editor -in-chief of the Int. J. Pharmaceutics, we analyze the future of pharmacy preparations (also known as extemporaneous preparations or compounded products). Pharmacy preparations, long considered as an endangered part of the pharmacy profession on its way to extinction, may be at the brink of a revival. Drivers of this revival are a set of changes related to new clinical concepts and supply shortages. Moreover, new production and IT paradigms are being developed that facilitate the preparation processes and provide the necessary quality management systems. Finally, more detailed legislation (EU) and guidelines (US) gets a better hold on preparation in pharmacies. The question is now: is the pharmacy profession willing to accept preparation of high quality medicines in the pharmacy as an integral part of its professional tasks? If so, institutions for pharmacy education should provide the required competences to the pharmacy student. If not, alternative scenarios with other disciplines taking the lead should be considered. Whatever the choice made, the 'Physicochemical principles of pharmacy: in manufacture, formulation and clinical use' by Florence and Attwood (2016); will be on the engineer/pharmacy student's desk.