About a decade ago, while practicing at another clinic, longevity expert Dr Rex Gloria recalls patients asking him to buy medications for them whenever he traveled abroad for conferences. Accessing certain supplements and medications through international suppliers proved difficult. Even shipments as common as vitamin C sometimes faced regulatory and logistical delays.
Today, a Philippine compounding pharmacy supplies customized medications and supplements to patients in 27 countries.
In 2018, pharmacist Noha Shalaby, PhD and her husband, Wael Abuelmagd, established Sweet Treat Pharmacy and Compounding at Centuria Medical Makati. The pharmacy is run by Fabrienne Dizon, a former overseas Filipino pharmacist, who also trains its staff. Sweet Treat prepares hormone replacement formulations, including estrogen gel, peptides, and ingredients for vitamin drips. In the past, doctors mixed supplements from opened ampoules directly into intravenous (IV) fluid bottles. A licensed sterile compounding pharmacy such as Sweet Treat can prepare these formulations under controlled conditions, reducing the risk of contamination.
Gloria joined the venture as its physician after learning about Shalaby’s operation and its global footprint. Its licenses, documentation, and professional standards gave him confidence in the operation. He considered working with credible partners essential to protecting the industry.
The pharmacy was part of a larger undertaking. After expanding into the Middle East, Shalaby and her team developed Evolve, an educational platform that brings experts and practitioners together through conferences in different countries. They also wanted a facility where doctors could apply what they learned. This led to AureaVita, a medical and wellness center at Centuria Medical Makati, with Gloria as its chief medical officer.
The aim, Gloria says, was to establish a properly licensed medical facility combining clinical assessment with wellness services. He cited the importance of appropriate licensing, clinical oversight, and regulatory compliance when providing medical procedures.
Dr. Angelisey Allyn M. Ramos, in-house physician; Noha Shalaby PhD, CEO; Dr. Christopher Rex Gloria, chief medical officer; Fabrienne Anne Dizon, president; Dr. Gabriel Delos Santos, in-house physician
AureaVita’s medical team is led by its in-house physicians, Dr. Gabrielle delos Santos and Dr Angelisey Allyn Ramos. Before recommending a treatment package, they assess each patient’s goals and concerns, check vital signs, and review previous test results.
Hugo PEMF for improved circulation, pain relief, reduced inflammation, and tissue recovery
Treatment takes place at three main stations. The first uses the Hugo Pulsed Electromagnetic Field (PEMF) device, which sends electromagnetic pulses through coils placed around the body. Smaller rings can be wrapped around individual limbs to deliver the pulses directly to the area being treated. The pulses are intended to stimulate circulation and support tissue recovery.
HOCATT (Hypothermic Ozone and Carbonic Acid Transdermal Technology) is a pod-like chamber that combines several treatments in one session. These include oxygen and carbon dioxide, frequency-specific microcurrents, photon light, ozone, infrared heat, and steam. The treatment is followed by an IV infusion, with nutrients chosen according to the patient’s consultation and test results. Gloria says a doctor supervises all procedures.
There are several treatment packages to suit people’s needs. Foundation Essentials is for those who want to maintain their health. Women’s Vitality addresses hormonal concerns, while Enhanced Foundation Essentials adds assessments such as genetic and nutritional testing. Weight and Metabolic focuses on weight management.
The most extensive package, Foundation Complete, includes additional HOCATT, akin to steam sauna sessions, PEMF therapy, and IV infusions. The clinic’s assessments extend beyond routine blood work to include genetic, telomere-length, hair DNA, and skin tests. Genetic testing can help doctors make recommendations on diet and exercise based on a patient’s genetic profile. Telomere-length testing looks at markers associated with cellular ageing.
Hair DNA testing examines genetic factors that may influence a patient’s response to hair-loss treatments. A person who is genetically less responsive to minoxidil, for example, may need to consider other options. Skin assessments help dermatologists and physicians select treatments suited to the patient’s needs.
The clinic also offers vitamin drips in preset formulations targeting concerns such as energy, sleep, and complexion. Patients requiring a more tailored treatment may receive IV formulations customized by a physician according to their clinical needs, consultation, and test results.
The clinic also offers vitamin drips in preset formulations targeting concerns such as energy, sleep, and complexion
Gloria says the clinic’s relationship with the pharmacy is central to this arrangement. The pharmacy prepares customized medications prescribed by doctors, while the clinic handles patient assessment and medical supervision.
Noha Shalaby’s path to compounding began in 2010, after working in retail and hospital pharmacy, regulatory affairs, and community pharmacy, including a mall-based practice specializing in skincare and consumer products. She moved into compounding in Dubai, where she was asked to help establish the practice in the Middle East.
Compounding involves preparing customized medications for patients whose needs cannot be met by commercially available drugs. These may require different dosages, alternative forms for people who cannot swallow pills, or preparations without certain allergens.
“I took on the challenge of getting the practice approved and accepted in the Middle East,” she says.
Shalaby traveled to Canada and the United States for training and certification, while building a network to introduce the practice to the region. After 18 months of negotiations with Dubai’s Ministry of Health, she secured approval and helped develop guidelines for compounding pharmacies in the United Arab Emirates. The practice later spread to Bahrain, Saudi Arabia, and Kuwait. She also introduced it in Egypt, her home country.
“Once a pharmacist gets into compounding, it’s difficult to go back to retail or community pharmacy. It’s a completely different level of practice,” she says.
Unlike conventional drug manufacturing, compounding starts with pharmaceutical ingredients prepared according to individual prescriptions. A patient who cannot tolerate oral pain medication, for instance, may need it in suppository form. Compounded medicines can also be tailored for children and animals. The practice is not intended for mass production. Once production exceeds the limits permitted for compounding, it falls under the stricter regulations governing pharmaceutical manufacturing.
In the United States, the Federal Food, Drug, and Cosmetic Act sets the conditions under which pharmacists and registered outsourcing facilities may compound medications. The Philippines also recognizes the practice under the Philippine Pharmacy Act of 2016, which defines compounding as the preparation of drugs through processes such as mixing, assembling, packaging, and labelling.
Shalaby and her team had been involved in discussions about introducing the practice in the Philippines even before a pharmacy was established here. They helped provide guidance and brought in a resource person from the United States to explain how compounding worked.
Her experience working with Filipinos left her impressed by their qualifications, precision, and commitment to quality. Her 13-year working relationship with Fabrienne Anne Dizon further strengthened her ties to the country.
The group also has branches in Abu Dhabi and Cairo, but Manila was where Shalaby and her partners began this particular venture.
AureaVita offers a setting where pharmacists and doctors can work together. Shalaby sees the pharmacist’s role as supporting physicians and helping them find solutions for their patients. The center also hopes to train younger doctors to assess patients more comprehensively, with the pharmacy providing support in preparing customized medications.
AureaVita is located at Unit 2106 A and B, Centuria Medical Makati, Kalayaan Avenue, Makati, tel. no. 8846-6838 and (0947) 757-6894.
