With the help of “powerful allies in Congress,” drug compounders, who are at the center of the meningitis outbreak, “have repeatedly staved off tougher federal oversight,” the New York Times (11/14, A16, Lichtblau, Tavernise, Subscription Publication, 1.23M) reports. While friends of the industry have come to its defense in the past, “compounders are now facing their biggest regulatory threat as they confront questions on Wednesday and Thursday at Congressional hearings on the deadly outbreak. The question is whether Congress will move to oversee the niche industry more aggressively.” The Times notes that the industry’s “clout is not terribly large,” but “by positioning itself as a more affordable, community-based alternative to huge drug manufacturers, compounders have attracted broad support from politicians.”