Pfizer limits some drugs’ distribution after tornado in North Carolina

Pfizer is limiting the distribution of some drugs manufactured at its plant in Rocky Mount, North Carolina, after the ability was struck by a tornado last month, the corporate said in a letter to hospitals late Thursday. 

The letter listed 12 injection products that Pfizer will only distribute through emergency orders “as a consequence of their high medical need,” effective “immediately and until further notice.” 

Some injections on the list were already in brief supply as of late last month, based on a database from the American Society of Health-System Pharmacists. 

That features a form of sodium chloride injection, which is used to replenish water and salt lost consequently of certain conditions. It also includes an injection used to treat metabolic acidosis, or the buildup of excess acid within the body as a consequence of ailments like kidney failure. 

However the list also includes drugs that didn’t have supply issues as of last month, equivalent to certain versions of heart failure injection dobutamine and dopamine, which is used to treat shock and low blood pressure brought on by heart attack, infections or surgery.

Pfizer didn’t say how much supply of those products comes from its damaged plant.

The corporate previously said that the ability supplies 8% of all sterile injectable medicines utilized in U.S. hospitals, including anesthesia, analgesia, therapeutics, anti-infectives and neuromuscular blockers. 

The drugmaker also didn’t say whether it expects the brand new limits to exacerbate any existing shortages plaguing U.S. hospitals or result in recent ones — a concern for some health experts. 

The nation is already facing an unprecedented shortage of medication, starting from ADHD pills to pain medicine to injectable cancer therapies. 

Manufacturing quality-control issues and surges in demand, amongst other aspects, have caused the availability problems.

Pfizer urged hospitals to ascertain the supply of the 12 products with wholesalers or distributors and search out alternatives before placing emergency orders.

The corporate added that every one other products manufactured on the plant not included on the list can be found within the distribution chain. 

“We imagine that is probably the most responsible approach to enable equitable distribution of their remaining inventory in addition to support continuity of patient care while we work to restart production,” Meera Bhavsar, Pfizer’s sterile injectables portfolio lead, wrote within the letter. 

CEO Albert Bourla said during an earnings call this week that the drugmaker continues to be assessing how long it would take to bring the plant back online.

Pfizer said last month that the tornado primarily damaged a warehouse facility, which stored raw materials, packaging supplies and finished medicines waiting for quality assurance.

The corporate added that there doesn’t seem like major damage to the drug-manufacturing areas of the plant.