Updated: Iconic Des Moines pharmacy under drug investigation

Bauder Pharmacy, a nearly century-old Des Moines fixture, is the subject of an administrative investigation after state officials found a shortage of almost 741,000 pain pills.

Mark Graziano with a pan of the business's peppermint bars while at the Iowa State Fair in 2008. (Register file photo.)

The Iowa Board of Pharmacy has filed 20 administrative charges against the pharmacy, 3802 Ingersoll Ave., Des Moines, and its owner and pharmacist, Mark Graziano, in connection with the missing hydrocodone tablets.

The shortage was discovered by an inspection and audit, which included information from an automated reporting system maintained by the U.S. Department of Justice that monitors the flow of certain controlled substances.

Graziano was not in the store Thursday, and a message left for him was not immediately returned. He acquired hydrocodone products for Bauder Pharmacy from 14 different drug wholesalers between 2008 and 2012, according to state documents.

The pharmacy ordered and received 1,098,900 of the tablets between Jan. 1, 2008, and March 21 of this year and dispensed 358,012, according to prescription monitoring program records.

Additionally, inspectors noted that shopper surveys had indicated numerous deficiencies ranging from mislabeling on prescription vials to expired registration of a technician at the business.

The pharmacys Controlled Substances Act registration has been suspended indefinitely pending a hearing through an emergency action from the board. The business remains open but is unable to dispense controlled substances, according to an employee at the store. The hearing is set for June 26.

If the charges are founded by the board, disciplinary action could range from a reprimand to license revocation.

Bauder's famous peppermint bars sold at the Iowa State Fair. (Register file photo.)

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Updated: Iconic Des Moines pharmacy under drug investigation